Victorious Abbeydorney boss has name 'in the hat' to become next Kerry hurling manager

IN THE FRAME: Abbeydorney manager Francie O'Halloran during his time as Roscommon hurling boss. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Despite getting a good drenching post match from Oisín Maunsell, Clare native and manager Francie O’Halloran was delighted.

“It’s a fantastic day, when you look at the scenes there because fifty years is a long time. I suppose when we met last January our aim was to get to the county final and have a chance. Look, we are really delighted as a group.” 

O’Halloran said a good start was always the plan. 

“Look throughout the year our mantra was let’s have no regrets. We were going to leave it all out there and whether it was for ten minutes or fifty minutes or seventy minutes, the lads were going to give it everything. 

"In fairness Niall O’Mahoney went off after ten minutes of the second half as he was goosed. In fairness, Oisín probably should have been taken off as he had given his all, but we took off Callum instead. 

"Everybody gave their all and I am delighted for the O’Leary brothers who lost their dad, when Dan passed away last September and the emotions that will be in that Abbeydorney dressing room in a half an hour’s time will be something else. There will be a lot of tears.” 

Francie explained that the game plan was always to get off to a quick start and to nullify Ballyduff’s fast getaways in all their games. 

“I suppose the thinking of it was that we had to nullify their start because it all their games they had been starting very well. But we had been starting very well too so it was a case of doing what we’re doing ourselves but also minding the house. 

"Sure Ronan Donovan was superb and along with Stephen Egan, they did a massive job on Podge Boyle. Podge is one of the best if not the best out and out forward in the county on his day, but the boys did a super job and I am delighted for all of them.” 

Abbeydorney captain James O'Connor with the cup after his team won Kerry SHC final against Ballyduff. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

Francie admitted that his name is in the hat for the vacant Kerry senior hurling managers job, with interviews going ahead this week.

“I know that there are about eight or ten of those lads should be invited into the Kerry setup by whoever gets the Kerry job. I don’t know, my own name is in the hat, but who knows, but three nights up the coast road or across on the ferry, the car won’t be able for it,“ Francie quipped.

But when questioned as to how serious Francie harboured ambitions to manage Kerry, he was a tad coy.

“Ah, I don’t know. I had a great 14 months involved with Roscommon but things did not work out because of thing or another, so we will see. 

"But I have good experience and when I came down here I said the lads that if you row in with me and stick to the process, we will get you to the next level. 

"This is the next level so who knows, we are away in Waterford in a Munster intermediate club quarter-final so we will see how far we get.” 

Kerry at moment have about eight candidates to interview this week and then they will come up with two or three names before naming their man to succeed Stephen Molumphy with a candidate ready to be ratified at a County Board meeting on August 28th.