Kerry manager Colin Healy 'surprised' by Damien Duff’s departure

23rd June 2025; Kerry manager Colin Healy against Cobh Ramblers during the SSE Airtricity first division game at St. Colman's Park. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kerry boss Colin Healy admits Damien Duff’s sudden departure from Shelbourne had taken him by surprise.

Irish football was rocked on Sunday when – as first revealed by the Irish Examiner – the Ireland legend informed his players at training of his intention to immediately quit.

“I think it has. I think it's surprised everybody," said Healy in the wake of his side’s 1-0 away defeat to high flying Cobh Ramblers on Monday night.

"I suppose what he's done for the league the last few years, winning the league last year, he's been absolutely brilliant. Obviously I would have known Damien through my playing-career. He's never changed from being a player to a coach.

"Really, really top person, but an excellent coach. It was a big shock for everybody, but I would imagine he has his reasons for leaving.

"I would just wish him the best of luck going forward on his next chapter, but he is a top, top coach.”

So could it be the pressure of such a high intensity gig at Shelbourne that might have contributed to Duff’s decision.

“I’ve had a bit of that at Cork, and that's the reason why I stepped away from Cork. Probably my own personal issues as well.

“The job is, there's no break in it. It is full on. The reason that's why I did step away from Cork is that I was a bit burnt out, and I felt that I couldn't give as much as I could have before.

“It was the reason I just stepped away and I let somebody else do it. But it is full on. There's no break. Obviously, you've got your coaching staff, but you're working non-stop, and you're on the phone trying to get players, and it takes its toll.

"But that's the job we know we're going into, so we have to accept that as well.”

As regards to Kerry's loss to Cobh Ramblers by a single second half goal that was down to keeper error, Healy refused to blame his net minder Tim-Oliver Hiemer.

“I thought first half we had better chances, probably their only chances in the first half probably came from set plays, and we know that they're very, very dangerous on set plays, but at half-time we were happy.

"In the second half they changed their system, and obviously they went with the 3-5-2, and they put obviously Whelan and Murphy up top, and they went the small bit more direct.

"Their goal came from, listen, we could have done better, but what I would say is that Tim has been, just since I've come in, Tim has been fantastic, and he's been brilliant, and it's just that when a keeper makes a mistake like that, it's probably highlighted an awful lot more.

"When the outfield players make mistakes, people don't really, sometimes don't notice it as much, but listen, Tim has been brilliant, brilliant for me since he's come in, and the amount of saves, the amount of games that he's won for us.”

So have Kerry play off ambitions as they sit only two points off the top five with an away game to Wexford coming this Friday?

“That’s the message that we're saying to the players. I'm only probably talking, since they've come in, and what I've seen so far within the players, and I know there's more in them, and the games that we've played, we've done okay so far.

“We haven't come off the pitch, and I wouldn't say we've been outplayed. We've come off the pitch, we've given away some silly goals, and it happens with all teams. But I think there's a confidence there within the team.

"There’s good work-rate. We've got some good young players. We would like to get into the playoffs, will it be tough? Absolutely, but we will take one game at a time, and we'll see, where it takes us.”

Healy also admits that he will be hoping to strengthen his squad with the transfer window due to open on July 1st.

“Yeah, we are looking, but we've got to make sure we bring in the right players. If they're not available for this window, it might be for next year, but we've got to make sure we get the right ones in.

"I don't want to be taking players just for the sake of it either.”