Jack O'Connor set to step away as Kerry boss after more final glory

After sealing a fifth win as Kerry manager, Jack O'Connor says this is his last hurrah

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor, and his backroom staff,selector Aodán Mac Gearailt, nutritionist John O'Connor, masseur Harry O'Neill, and son Cian O'Connor celebrate after the GAA All-Ireland football final against Donegal at Croke Park. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Jack O'Connor indicated he will step away from the job after sealing his fifth All-Ireland final win as Kerry manager. 

O'Connor described the win as his "last hurrah", signalling his intention to step down at the top in an interview with RTÉ Radio 1 following Kerry's win over Donegal.

And speaking later in the post-match press conference, O'Connor maintained he had said from the outset of the 2025 season that this was his final one as Kerry manager.

Over three spells as Kerry manager, O'Connor has now won titles in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2022 and 2025 as well as being losing finalists three times — in 2005, 2011, and 2023.

This year, he secured a treble of All-Ireland, Munster, and League titles. 

Speaking on TV earlier, he identified David Clifford's two-pointer just before half-time as the key moment in the final win.

Kerry kept the ball for a long period before working the opportunity for Clifford to shoot after the hooter. Turning a five-point lead into seven was massive for Kerry, O'Connor said.  

"The two-pointer just before half time by David was a massive score. That put us seven up."

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor, left, and Donegal manager Jim McGuinness shake hands after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Picure Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

And Kerry drew on Cork's experience in the hurling final to make sure they stayed the course. 

"We said to each other in the dressing room, what happened Cork last weekend wasn’t going to happen us. We were going to come out and play and try to win the second half and we did by three points."

The strength of Kerry's panel was the key this year, O'Connor added.

"Take the year as a whole, we had a lot of adversity, a lot of injuries. We lost a lot of good men. But we had a tremendous panel spirit.

"I heard a great man Brian Cody talking years ago about panel spirit and you can’t beat it.

"Men like Mark O'Shea, Sean O'Brien, lads like that who didn’t think they’d be near the team starting midfield in an All-Ireland final for Kerry. It’s the stuff of dreams. I’m delighted for them all. A massive team effort, a massive panel effort, backroom team effort I’m thrilled for them all.

"The boys fought on their backs out there."