Kidney’s confidence the key, says Ferris

STEPHEN FERRIS attributes Ireland’s spiralling confidence levels to head coach, Declan Kidney, saying that the whole squad is “buying” into the Cork man’s methods.

Blessed with innate man-management skills, Kidney’s influence could be key to an Ireland victory over England in Croke Park tomorrow, and to attaining a first Grand Slam since 1948. Already the former Munster coach has Ireland sitting top of the Six Nations table, but has managed to keep the players’ feet on the ground. Kidney is, after all, an old hand at dampening expectations levels and shielding any hype from his players.

Above all else, Kidney is regarded as possessing the Midas touch with teams ever since he took up coaching at PBC, Cork while a student at UCC, and subsequently worked his way up the various age-grade levels to eventually become national head coach.