Kerry GAA chair Tim Murphy has firmly rejected claims that the process to select Jack O'Connor as the next Kerry senior football manager was in any way biased or unfair.
Speaking at a County Board meeting on Monday night, Murphy defended the way his five-man sub-committee went about its business. Media reports on Monday had suggested that Jack O’Connor - who resigned as Kildare manager on September 6th - had sewn up the job before the other candidates (Peter Keane and Stephen Stack) had even interviewed for the role.
“The final decision on this was made on last Friday week (September 24). That morning we met as selection committee. Just for the record… This suggestion about it being a done deal going back three weeks ago or four weeks ago is totally erroneous, totally untrue, totally unfounded.
“It’s put out there in the media by individuals for whatever reason, I have no idea, who want to undermine us as a selection committee, who want to undermine us as a county committee, and who want to undermine us as an executive.
“I find it very disheartening and very disconcerting that people would actually believe that five people of the integrity and character of the people on that selection committee would in any way sully the reputation of Kerry in any form or fashion.
“I think it’s disgraceful. It’s the lowest of the low. We’ve heard it today only recently from other outlets. We’ve heard it over the last few days. It’s so, so disrespectful to everyone on our selection committee and to the county executive.
He later added: “We did our business in an honest, transparent and open manner, despite what narratives were being put out there. The best interests of Kerry football were put first and foremost.”
Murphy also confirmed that Peter Keane was informed from the outset that Kerry GAA were entering into a competitive process to find the team’s next manager. Keane was “happy” to partake in that process, Murphy said, although the Cahersiveen man did indicate that he didn’t want it “dragging on”. (For his part, Keane issued a statement at the weekend saying the Kerry players wanted him to stay in the job.)
Kerry GAA faced criticism on the back of their terse statement announcing that the process of appointing the next manager was underway. However, Murphy assured delegates that before the statement was issued on September 13, he twice asked Keane if he was comfortable with the wording. Keane said that he was.
After Murphy addressed a series of concerns and questions submitted by delegates from the Kilcummin, St Mary’s, Listowel Emmetts, Milltown/Castlemaine, Listry, Laune Rangers, and Beaufort clubs, many of which centred around the process and how it was handled, Jack O’Connor was ratified as Kerry senior football manager on a two-year term.
Murphy confirmed that the backroom team of Jack O’Connor has not yet been finalised but it will include former Kerry players Diarmuid Murphy and Micheál Quirke.
Upon Jack O’Connor’s ratification, the chairman indicated that it was now appropriate to formally thank Peter Keane and his selectors for their “incredible service” to Kerry GAA. After listing Keane’s many achievements as a player and manager, Murphy addressed the outgoing Kerry boss directly:
“Peter, your contribution, expertise and commitment in developing and advancing the growth of our players and their ambition and improvement going forward is fully acknowledged and will benefit the overall association in Kerry for many years to come.
“We wish to thank and salute you for the incredible service you’ve given Kerry, the many personal sacrifices you’ve made along the way, and the amazing determination and resilience you’ve shown over the past two years in particular, in what was a very challenging COVID-19 environment.”
SEE ALSO: Kevin McStay Was Not Impressed With Way Jack O'Connor Went After Kerry Job
