Kennelly: Kerry will turn things around

Pat Spillane has dubbed it a 'crisis', but another of Kerry's former All-Ireland winners, Tadhg Kennelly, believes that there should be no panicking just because the Kingdom lost their first two Allianz League matches.

Kennelly: Kerry will turn things around

Pat Spillane has dubbed it a 'crisis', but another of Kerry's former All-Ireland winners, Tadhg Kennelly, believes that there should be no panicking just because the Kingdom lost their first two Allianz League matches.

Kerry lost to Connacht champions Mayo and Leinster title holders Dublin in their opening two Division 1 fixtures, failing to score in the entire second half against Mayo and tallying up just four points - two from play - when opposing the Dubs last Sunday.

Injuries and club commitments have robbed new Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice of some key personnel in these early rounds, and he will hope to have reinforcements on board for his side's away trips to Kildare and Donegal early next month.

Kennelly is in Dublin this week to oversee an AFL trial event for Irish and UK-based hopefuls. He hung up his boots with Aussie Rules club Sydney Swans in September 2011 and now works as an international talent co-ordinator and ambassador for the AFL.

The 2009 All-Ireland winner spent last weekend in Kerry, playing for his club Listowel Emmets before taking in Kerry's loss to Dublin.

He admits it was "hard to watch" such a lacklustre display from a Kerry team, but is "certain" that Fitzmaurice's charges can turn things around - even if it takes enduring relegation first.

"They are not too worried if Kerry get relegated this year. It wouldn't be ideal, of course not," said Kennelly.

"There has to be a step back at some point when you don't have your personnel there. They understand where they are at. It's not a shock on the inside. It's a shock to people outside Kerry football.

"Eamonn is strong in what he believes in, a very strong-willed man and he knows what he wants and I'm sure he's going to get it.

"It's doom and gloom (with the results), but it's not all doom and gloom inside the Kerry camp."

Pointing to the development of Knocknagoshel youngster James Walsh, he added: "It’s great to see James Walsh, 20 years of age, playing midfield against Dublin.

"But you can’t just expect young players to step up all of a sudden. You need experience, even that experience Tomás Ó Sé gives. Tomás is still a mile off fitness-wise.

"(Against Dublin) he just brought that little cuteness and experience to the team. If you had another four or five players to bring back in that would help the young fellas enormously."

Kennelly says he will continue to play for Listowel this season. Given that he only turns 32 in July, would he be tempted if Fitzmaurice offered him a place on the Kerry panel?

“Of course I'd take it - Jesus, who wouldn’t? But that's all ifs and buts," he insisted. "I am over and back (to Australia). If I wanted to do it (play to Kerry again), I'd have to honestly decide whether or not I could do it with work.

"If I really wanted to and I really had to do it? Well, by not having done it by now, I think I'm telling myself that I don't really want to do it. Who knows, but it's highly unlikely.

"I am going to play county Championship football, but that's probably it. I am a full year from any hard training.

“I have been relaxing and taking it easy for a full year. I suppose being involved in such a stressful environment all my career in sport, it has been a great relief for me just to be able to play games where I can pretty much chill out.”

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