Munster system leaves Cork and Kerry 'cold' and vulnerable, argues Marc  Ó Sé

Cork’s Dara Sheedy bursts past Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich of Kerry to shoot for a point. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Given he is but a few months in the job and has yet to oversee a single competitive fixture as Kerry minor manager, Marc Ó Sé is somewhat reluctant to enter into a debate around championship structures and the fairness of the Munster format.

The Kerry minors begin their provincial campaign away to Waterford next Monday. As with Cork’s spin to Clarecastle the same evening, Kerry will be taking on a team that already has three games under their belt from Phase 1 of the Muster MFC.

The system is the same as the Munster U20 championship, a format that Marc’s older brother and Kerry U20 boss, Tomás, has described as “totally ludicrous” and one that “cracks me up”.

“We haven't played a game yet, and I suppose that's the difficulty with the Munster Championship, and the round robin, where teams are getting experience with two or three games, whereas we haven't, and Cork haven't, so that's the challenge when you throw them in there, where they're at,” Marc Ó Sé said.

“Tomás is more experienced than me in dealing with it. This is my first year at it, but definitely, from our point of view, we're going down to Waterford cold. I'm not trying to make excuses in any way, but we're going down and Waterford have had three games, three wins, and they're a very good team. We've it all to do down there, and I can see maybe why this is, to improve these teams, but they are improving.

“All you need to do is look at the U20s. You had Cork drawing with Clare, and then you have Waterford beating Clare and Cork beating Kerry. From that point of view, what Tomás was saying is probably right, in terms of there should be a different system, perhaps, but look, that's above my pay grade.” 

While Kerry have been close to untouchable within provincial boundaries in recent years, an All-Ireland at this age-grade has eluded the county since the last of the five-in-a-row in 2018.

Their conquerors for the past three years, as well as the 2020 edition, have worn an Ulster Eircode.

“From a Kerry point of view, what we're trying to do is maybe develop players that can go on to U20 and senior level thereafter, but also at the back of your head, you want to win, you want to be successful. And winning will make these fellas probably be better players as well, so that's where my thinking is,” Marc replied when asked about the importance of a 17th All-Ireland minor crown.