NEW KERRY manager Eamon Fitzmaurice has shown he is going to be his own man, as he has decided it would be beneficial for Kerry to play in the McGrath Cup in January, after Jack O’Connor had given it a miss last season.
Fitzmaurice will use the competition to take a look at fringe players and though he will be without his college contingent, Kerry will be able to field a strong team for a cup they won in 2011.
Munster chairman Seán Walsh is delighted the Kingdom are back in the McGrath Cup and was strongly critical of O’Connor’s decision not to allow Kerry participate last season. “I am delighted to see Kerry back in the McGrath Cup, because in my opinion, they should have never been out of it in the first place. My feelings on Kerry’s withdrawal last year are well documented. It did the competition no good, as Kerry were beaten All-Ireland finalists and the holders.
“I remember the McGrath Cup final in 2011 when there was a big crowd watching Kerry beat Clare in Killarney and I think it was beneficial to Kerry.”
Walsh went on to outline the benefits to the stronger counties of taking part in the McGrath Cup. “Remember the McGrath Cup where Darran O’Sullivan rediscovered his zip for the game again and he had a great year. In fact Darran started one game at wing back and he came on this year, against Donegal as more or less an attacking wing back.
“This competition will enable Eamon Fitzmaurice and the new management team to take a look at players they may have spotted playing well in the county championship, and other fringe players who have not been getting a lot of game time. So it’s a good preparation for the league and players, who are training hard at this time of the year, like games to break the monotony”
Elsewhere, Peter Clarke has been ousted as Dublin women’s senior football team manager. And board’s chairwoman Maureen King is considering her position after the executive’s recommendation to reinstate Clarke was shot down by delegates at Tuesday night’s stormy board meeting.
Clarke took over from Tommy Brown after the 2011 campaign but the former Dublin City University O’Connor Cup-winning manager caused a storm last May when he axed former All Stars Denise Masterson and Siobhán McGrath from the Dublin squad. Masterson, who captained Dublin to All-Ireland glory in 2010, and McGrath were two popular members of the panel and Clarke’s decision did not go down well with some players.
Dublin won the Leinster title but bowed tamely out of the All-Ireland championship when Kerry beat them in the quarter-finals.
King was nevertheless keen to retain the services of Clarke and had supported the idea of his reappointment for the 2013 season. Sources have indicated King and five other members had voted for Clarke but the former Monaghan selector lost out on a 38-10 vote.
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