By Cian O’Connell

Kayleigh Cronin is fully aware that resilience was demonstrated. Slowly, but surely the Kerry ladies football team earned respect.

Now they are classed as a serious outfit challenging for silverware at the highest level on the national stage once again. A Division One League title illustrated Kerry’s ability, but it was simply the latest chapter in an encouraging story all about developing.

“There were a couple of years when I first came into the panel that were tough going, to say the least,” she says.

“Nobody had an ounce of faith in us to be honest. It would make you question the faith you had in yourself too. We went through a couple of very hard years, even a couple of years previous to when I was there, they were in the depths of despair nearly.

“We always had faith that we did have the players, we just had to get a system in place, I suppose. Thankfully the management that are here at the minute have brought that into place. Now we are seeing the fruits of the labour over the last few years. It is coming good.”

Joint managers Declan Quill and Darragh Long have forged a meaningful connection with a talented group of players. Suddenly Kerry are believing again. A highly regarded coaching ticket has helped to generate momentum.

“That is definitely two of them, anyway - momentum and management,” Cronin responds when asked to outline some of the reasons why Kerry have improved.

“Winning is a habit so is losing, unfortunately. We got into the habit of losing for a while too. It is very hard to pick yourself up after a couple of bad losses on the trot, but we had to, there was no two ways about it.

“We had some very experienced players in the panel, who stood up in games when it was needed. So it just started to turn. The faith and belief they had in us did pass through to us. We started to believe in ourselves fully then. When that happened we were on our way then.”

Ultimately it means that several counties are adamant that an All-Ireland title can be captured. “You have five or six at the minimum,” Cronin says. “We probably believe in a few more of them, maybe more than they believe in themselves.

“It is wide open, to be fair. The Munster Championship this year has been super. We have the result of the Connacht Final, but I can guarantee you that Galway are not gone this year. You have a couple of teams coming out of Ulster and even Division Two that will put it up to anybody.

“We were down in Division Two long enough to know that. It is a desperate Division to be getting out of because the games are very tough.

“So they will all come good in Championship, you have your steadfast then - your Dublins, Meaths, Corks, Galways, and Mayos.

“We are looking forward to it because it is wide open.”