Mike Breen: Kerry need the two-week gap to All-Ireland semi-final

EVER-BREEN: Kerry's Mike Breen leaves the field after picking up an injury against Tyrone. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Mike Breen says Kerry will be glad of the two-week gap to the All-Ireland semi-final.

As was the case last year, the quarter-final was their third game in as many weekend and like his manager Jack O’Connor the 28-year-old felt the heavy schedule was illustrated in their performance against Tyrone on Saturday. 

“Without a doubt, the three weeks in a row had an effect. The energy was a small bit down, but it was a great win, like, the way we got over it. It's nearly better winning a game there by a couple of points than beating a team by 10. We really showed character there in the second half. The subs were unreal when they came on as well.

“Even mentally there, you could feel the three weeks in a row. You're trying to get up for training the following Tuesday or Wednesday. It's not easy, and then you have to go again a few days later.

“But in fairness to the boys, they have great recovery strategies and stuff for us there, so they got us right thankfully in the end.”

Tyrone’s strengths were stressed by the Kerry management to the players in the build-up. The “loose talk” concerning Kerry’s All-Ireland prospects that O’Connor spoke about afterwards wasn’t going to penetrate the camp.

“The fans seem to really blow us up when you win a game like that by 10 or 11 points,” says Breen. “But in the camp we knew Tyrone were going to bring it to us, the two-week break they had, and they have great players coming through. They have great forwards there that can score, so we knew it was going to be tough. The lads had us ready for it, so we're happy.” 

As things stand, Breen is on course for a second successive All-Star nomination. As O’Connor said about him after the Armagh game, “I had Mike as a minor back in 2015, which is a long time ago now, and I always thought he had the makings of a really good centre-back.

“He's grown into it now and he really believes in himself. He's had a rough time with injuries as well, but he's got a good run at it now and he looks the player that we thought he'd become."

Ankle and hamstring injuries have beset the Beaufort man in recent years but they are in his rearview mirror. “I've got a bit of an injury-free run there now and we've got players trying to do the right thing, trying to kick the ball in.” 

Notwithstanding Breen’s modesty, his playmaking skills have been to the fore in recent games. “I think that's the way the game should be played. The forwards, they want the quick ball inside, so if we can get the boys on it quick, they'll do the damage inside. That's the way they want us to play it. They want us to keep the heads up and kick it into the forwards.” 

What’s driving Breen to emulate last year’s success? The fun, he says. “When you win one, you're always hungry for more, so it's just the craic and stuff we had afterwards, it just makes you want to experience it again.”