Killian Young
By John Harrington
Kerry footballer Killian Young says the appointment of ‘hero’ Maurice Fitzgerald as a team-selector this year has given everyone in the panel a boost.
Young is old enough to have played with Kerry legend Fitzgerald at club level in the past and is a big fan of what he brings to the set-up.
“Yeah, I actually did with South Kerry and won with him as well which was a nice touch,” said Young today at a press-conference to announce a partnership between the GAA and the RNLI aimed at reducing the number of people who lose their lives though drowning in Ireland.
“He's a great guy. It's nice to have a different voice in there. Somebody all the players look up to and respect so much as well. A hero of all of ours as well really. It's fantastic to have him in. He's really enjoying it as well. It's good so far.
“It gives you a boost. Different opinion as well and different views on the way we're playing and on individuals as well, might see a different thing about an individual, providing different feedback, which is always great to have from such a knowledgeable person and such a hero in Kerry, yeah it's been working well so far.”
Maurice Fitzgerald isn’t the only new face in the Kerry set-up this year.
Up and coming young players like Jack Barry, Jack Savage, Ronan Shanahan, Tom O’Sullivan, and Jason Foley have come into the side during the League and done well.
“I've been very impressed,” says Young. “It's great to see them coming in and just thrown into the deep end because you can be training as long as you want but you really need to develop on the field, get a starting position there, things like that. It's good.
“They'll bring that development into the U21's as well tonight versus Clare, the U21's first round, hopefully it will all go well for them there as well and we'll see them back with the Kerry seniors soon enough.”
The RNLI and the GAA have announced a major partnership aimed at reducing the number of people who lose their lives though drowning in Ireland.
Kerry’s young players will get the ultimate test of their credentials in Austin Stack Park on Saturday March 18 when Dublin visit.
The reigning League and All-Ireland champions are seeking to equal the 34-match unbeaten run of the Kerry team that won four successive All-Ireland titles from 1929 to 1932.
But even though that would surely add to the satisfaction for Kerry were they to beat them, Young insists the record-books aren’t a source of any extra motivation.
“There's no point on looking at that picture. I know if we're at it and we can focus and improve on our football, we'll have a chance on the night.
"I'm sure they've confidence and the habit of winning. We're going to be ready for them and looking forward to it. It's good to have us at home as well, having home advantage and we'll be looking forward to that as well.
“There’s a massive build-up obviously for that game. It's kind of an unusual one really. Normally you'd hear a build-up two or three days beforehand at best for a league game and this has been going on for the last three or four weeks.
“Just because of the venue it is and the tickets and being sold out, only 12,500 available. So there is a bit of a different feel to it.
“We are looking forward to it. It's an exciting part of the league where we're playing games week in week out. We're looking forward to it and we're enjoying our football.”
