Micheál Burns leaves Kerry squad as manager Jack O'Connor admits these are 'tricky issues'

'It is tough going, especially in a county like Kerry where there is huge pressure and it’s a big commitment. And their whole lives are on hold. Believe me, it is a very tricky situation'

Tue, 13 Feb, 2024 - 16:48

Tony Leen, Tralee

ALL-Ireland winning attacker Micheál Burns has left the Kerry football panel of his own accord, manager Jack O’Connor confirmed Monday.

The Dr Crokes utility forward featured in the last two All-Ireland finals with the Kingdom, and his involvement with Kerry goes back a decade when he starred for the county’s minors in their 2014 All-Ireland victory over Donegal. That team also featured Shane Ryan, Brian Ó Beaglaioch, Tom O'Sullivan, Barry O'Sullivan, Mark O'Connor and Killian Spillane. Jack O’Connor was in charge then too.

Burns started Kerry’s opening Allianz League Division 1 defeat in Tralee to Derry last month, but was replaced at the break and was not involved against Monaghan in Clones in round two.

Notwithstanding that, the decision by the 27-year-old is a surprise for a player who features so frequently for the county.

Seemingly, though, not frequently enough.

“There comes a time in all careers when you have to make a decision whether the effort is worth the potential reward,” O’Connor explained Monday. “Micheal has come to that stage. He’s 27, and possibly didn’t feel he was getting the game time that was going to keep him happy and motivated. That leads to a discussion.

“In a panel of over 30 players, you can’t keep everyone happy – 10 to 15 lads are not getting game time and that’s tough going, because inter-county football these days is full-on and a ferocious commitment. There may even be other fellas (in the squad currently) as the year goes on who might feel it is not worth the effort.”

In his Irish Examiner musings, Ronan O’Gara says often that the key to a smooth-running squad is keeping No’s 16-30 engaged and on-board. O’Connor agrees.

“In any given week, you can only keep 15 players happy and maybe five more that are half-happy. It is tough going. They are all making the same effort and if some fella can find the formula to keep all 35 players content when you can only play 20, he’d be onto something big.

“It is tough going, especially in a county like Kerry where there is huge pressure and it’s a big commitment. And their whole lives are on hold. Believe me, it is a very tricky situation. I had no falling out with Micheal, we go back a while to his man of the match display in a minor final for me a decade ago. He has been playing in the last two All-Ireland finals so we are talking here about a significant player for us. But there comes a time in your career when the reward isn’t worth the effort. Micheal had reached that point. But he’s a great lad. I haven’t a bad word to say about him.”

Micheál Burns looks to turn Conor Doherty in what may prove his final outing in the green and gold.

These are ‘awkward conversations’, the Kerry manager expanded. They come around for every manager and a lot of players in a lot of sporting dressing rooms.

“Very, very tricky. If there was a silver bullet for that one, it would be worth a lot of money. All you can do is be honest with fellas, keep the lines of communication open, tell them where they stand.

“Some lads are in there pushing but need to understand that it’s a development phase for them – and you have to explain that while also demanding that they are competitive. No player can go through the motions. Some need to understand that, during the week, even if they are not playing, it’s their job to prepare the fellas that will be playing.

"If you are not competitive and not testing the Jason Foleys at one end or the David Cliffords at the other, then you are not doing your job. That’s the way you have to pitch it to them. If they can’t do that, then you have to go and find someone else to do it.”

Most counties bulk up their squads for pre-season and the spring test of the league but come March and April, the necessity of squad pruning will be conveyed by the treasurer or team liaison from the county board. The vulnerable aren’t often the young and the meek – they're the ones who have been there for some time and aren’t shifting gears.

“Any squad environment has to be competitive, O’Connor said “Every player has to have that - if they drop their standards, they are not testing the other fellas. That’s the way they move up the pecking order then. The job of those players every night at training is to prove to us mentors that they are worth a shot and game minutes. As soon as they lose that, it’s time to move on.”

None of that, O’Connor added, was specific to Micheál Burns.

The Kingdom are looking to avoid a three-game losing streak to Kevin McStay’s Mayo under the Saturday night floodlights in Tralee. Having had their asses handed to them in Castlebar a year ago, Kerry then lost their long Championship unbeaten record at Fitzgerald Stadium last summer.

“They gave us two good beatings last year,” O’Connor nodded. “The game in Killarney, that was a big deal to lose our proud home championship record. Dublin played well in Castlebar in Round 2 and Mayo still got the better of them, and that’s without Mattie Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor or James Carr, though we hear some of those might be back for Saturday.”

Kerry won’t have Paul Geaney back yet. He has rejoined the group but won’t resume full training until next week. Dr Crokes pair, Shane Murphy and Tony Brosnan are back training along with Stefan Okunbor, but Stephen O’Brien, Briain O’Beaglaoich, Mike Breen and Killian Spillane are unavailable.