Kerry chairman optimistic Jack O’Connor will remain in charge for 2026

DON'T HIT THE ROAD, JACK: Kerry chairman Patrick O’Sullivan is optimistic Jack O’Connor will remain on for a fifth season in charge in 2026. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

Kerry chairman Patrick O’Sullivan is optimistic Jack O’Connor will remain on for a fifth season in charge in 2026 despite the All-Ireland winning manager’s intimations he will be stepping down.

O’Connor has yet to make a decision on his future but has indicated this fourth year of his third term in charge will be his last.

Asked about his future on Sunday, he said: “I was going out the door Thursday evening with the bag and my missus [Bridie] took a picture of me going out the gate. And I already know that’ll be up on the wall, that was my last, so I'd say no, she'll be framing that one.”

However, O’Sullivan believes the five-time All-Ireland SFC manager will stay on next season as Kerry look to win a 40th All-Ireland SFC and there will be conversations had in the coming weeks.

“Jack has given a lifetime’s service to the association in Kerry with his club and the county,” said O’Sullivan.

“At the start of the year, Jack was edging that way (stepping down) but winning yesterday and with the backing of the players I think Jack will stay on for another year.

“That’s a discussion we will have over the next couple of weeks. What is best for Kerry will happen. Jack is an honorable man, he has been and it’s a discussion for us going forward.”

Sunday’s victory marked a third All-Ireland title won during the chairmanship of O’Sullivan, who was also at the helm in 2014 and ’22. He pointed to the pain suffered by players in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to would-be champions Armagh last July.

“I’ll be honest, going into the All-Ireland final Jimmy McGuinness spoke about the hurt of 11 years ago. In the 11 years since, we had lost three All-Ireland finals and won one so we had hurt ourselves.

Kerry County Board chairman Patrick O'Sullivan brings the Sam Maguire cup out of the dressing-room. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile.

“We had a direction where we wanted to go and when we were beaten by Armagh last year, it was the toughest pill we had to swallow for a long time. From that game, there were conversations among the people in the leadership group in the team and they drove it on and those fellas who spoke were leaders on the pitch.”

The Kerry players, management and board officials left Dublin before lunch-time on Monday to visit sponsors Kerry Group headquarters in Naas. They were then travelling by train from Sallins to Rathmore for the beginning of their homecoming, which culminated in Tralee and Killarney.