Timing of All-Ireland group draw ‘distraction’ for provincial Finalists: Kerry’s Jack O’Connor
Kerry manager Jack O'Connor feels the timing of the All-Ireland group stage draw caused unnecessary issues
Kerry's Paudie Clifford lifts the Munster title following his side's victory over Clare
Jack O’Connor has reiterated his belief that making the draw for the All-Ireland SFC group stages on Tuesday, March 30 created a “distraction” for provincial Finalists that could easily have been avoided.
The Kerry boss was speaking in the wake of their 0-23 to 1-13 win over Clare in Ennis, landing an 85th Munster title for the Kingdom which includes 11 of the last 12.
“I can’t get my head around why they make the draw before it. What’s wrong with making the draw this evening?” O’Connor argued.
“You still have two weeks to promote the thing. I can’t see the benefit of it. It’s a distraction.”
Kerry's Paudie Clifford lifts the Munster title following his side's victory over Clare
His captain, Paudie Clifford, offered a different slant on the timing of the Sam Maguire draw, suggesting that it hadn’t distracted the Kerry players.
“We started the game fairly well, got into a nice lead but let it slip a bit,” Clifford remarked.
“We have to just go back and look at what happened and why we dropped off a bit, but we’re just happy to get through it.”
O’Connor was pleased with the feisty challenge provided by Division Three hopefuls Clare, but he accepted that there is plenty of scope for improvement ahead of a group campaign that will see Kerry take on Monaghan (at home), Meath (away) and the beaten Leinster Finalists, more than likely Louth, on a neutral surface.
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