'We were well off it’ — O'Connor suggests hectic schedule taking a toll on Kerry 

"I think everyone would agree five weeks in a row is tough going on amateur players and largely heavy ground until now," said the manager after a two-point defeat to Mayo

DRAINING FEELING: Kerry’s David Clifford rues a missed chance against Mayo. Pic: INPHO/Evan Logan

Kerry manager Jack O’Connor was left frustrated by a lacklustre first half as Mayo secured a two-point win in Castlebar to overtake them in the National Football League table.

Due to the postponed opening round fixture against Donegal, Kerry travelled for what was their fifth league match in a row. They took four points from that stretch and had a chance to clinch something on Saturday after coming back from seven down at half-time to lead by one with five minutes left.

However, Kevin McStay’s side finished with the final four scores to secure a significant victory.

“First half we were well off it,” said O’Connor. “Not quite sure what to put it down to, possibly the five weeks in a row which involved three away games. I think that kind of caught up with us in the first half. We shook the cobwebs off there in the second half and that was a very heartwarming display in the second half, but obviously left us too much to do.” 

They were without Sean O’Shea, Tom O’Sullivan and Tadhg Morley for the trip but O’Connor pointed out that they are trying to build a panel as well.

“Look, it was very obvious in the first half that Mayo were a good bit more energetic and fresher than us. That was very obvious. But as I say, there isn’t anything we can do about the schedule. I think everyone would agree five weeks in a row is tough going on amateur players and largely heavy ground until now. It was good today here. Just disappointed, the Armagh game at home in Tralee becomes a big game, a huge game. We have to go after that one and try to get to six points.” 

Meanwhile, Mayo boss McStay was satisfied now that they have recovered from successive defeats to go undefeated in their last three games.

“I’m not going to get high. I wasn’t getting low when the other games were on,” McStay said.

“All I am interested in is our attitude, do we present to compete, most of the time we do. Sometimes we have a wobble and we don’t tog as strong as we want to. That happens every team.

“This is an outrageously difficult division. Every game has to be. If you start looking ahead to other games or not taking your opposition seriously, you are going to get clipped. We have no credit to be taking anybody easy. There is nothing, I am not seeing anything that is surprising us in management.

“We know we have a very honest group of men who work awful hard for Mayo. Sometimes ye may not view it the same way, but we know, when we go to training and we get ready to play a game, they put in a huge amount of effort. I am just very pleased they were rewarded with two points today.”