Jack O'Connor: 'You have to enjoy it'

Jack O'Connor has adapted. Certain things have changed, but a lot remains the same, too. Kerry are always relevant.

So, to be getting ready for another All-Ireland SFC Final against Donegal means there is a buzz in the county.

Football peppers the conversations in Kerry. That is nothing new, but the week of a national decider must be embraced. There is joy in the journey.

How has management changed? "It was a bit simpler when I got involved first, I was doing nearly all the coaching myself which some bits and pieces of input from the selectors," O'Connor replies.

"I was stuck inside in the middle of the training games and coaching the drills. In some ways that was more enjoyable. Nowadays, I am managing a backroom team who manage the players. I’m not saying I don’t have input here and there but I’m not as hands on as I used to be.

"It’s maybe better because with backroom teams the size they are you have to change because you can’t do it the same way you did it the first time."

O'Connor is happy to delegate. Preparing for an eighth All-Ireland final as Kerry manager, valuable lessons have been learned. "You pick up a couple of things mainly in terms of what you need to avoid and being economical with your energy," O'Connor explains.

"There is no point in being all wired to the moon and having all your energy spent by the weekend of the game.

"That goes for the backroom team as much as the players because All-Ireland final weekend can be draining enough with all the nervous tension that can be involved in it.

"You have to enjoy it as well because it is not all about stress when you can feel a buzz around the county and you feed a lot of that."

Instinct matters, too. Details are etched in O'Connor's mind. What worked and didn't go according to plan. "I wouldn’t be a diary man no, I go off memory and instinct and being involved in it so long now I go off my instinct to know what is appropriate and what isn’t," he says.

"Particularly nowadays with social media you can spend a whole day looking at it if you want and I think it’s very important from players when they get away from training that they get a bit of a break mentally from it.

"You can’t be tuned in for every waking hour of the day because of what I said about energy so it’s very important to switch off when you are not training or having tactical meetings with the players."

Several of the current Kerry panel featured for O'Connor in the minor ranks a decade ago. "They are great lads and I got a great kick out of those minor wins in 2014 and 2015 because the minor grade is something held dearly in Kerry and we hadn’t won it for 20 years at the time.

"There was a big thrill in that and a lot of players have come through from those minor winning sides and personally its great knowing that you had a bit of involvement in their initial development and giving them a taste for it."

The next generation are benefiting also. "Over the years you develop a great rapport with them and a good bond," he adds.

"The amount of them that were involved with schools teams this year was incredible too and it’s great to see them giving back to the next generation while they are still very active as players."

The past, present and future of Kerry football combining.