Éamonn Fitzmaurice hails Tadhg Morley emergence

Éamonn Fitzmaurice has lauded the determination of defender Tadhg Morley in overcoming several hurdles to break onto the Kerry team this summer.

The 22-year old, despite not being part of the Kerry panel during the league, made his championship debut when selected at left half-back for last month’s Munster semi-final against Clare.

A primary school teacher in Dublin, Morley — the first Templenoe native to play championship football for Kerry since the Spillane brothers in the late 80s — has been making the long drive back to Killarney for mid-week training since becoming a “bone fide” member of the squad following the league’s conclusion at the end of April. His late introduction to the fold is heavily linked to Templenoe’s extended run in the All-Ireland junior club series — Morley led the South Kerry club up the steps of the Hogan Stand in early February.