Holding his first press conference as the new manager of Kerry's senior footballers, Peter Keane has revealed he is "open to the idea" of reviving the county's open-door policy for fans wishing to attend training sessions.
An event curtailed under the management of Eamonn Fitzmaurice, the decision was looked upon somewhat unfavourably by people within the county.
In a letter released by the Kerry GAA county board in 2013, Fitzmaurice outlined his reasons for making this decision, and how he had done so with a heavy heart.
I understand that for many a trip to Fitzgerald Stadium on a summer evening to watch the senior team is a longstanding ritual and nothing more than a social gathering to watch the players being put through their paces.
[However], in recent years as the championship has become more and more competitive, the monitoring of training sessions has become very intense. It has on occasions become much more than harmless curiosity. The information that such scouting provides can make a difference.
Speaking tonight, Peter Keane seemed less concerned with the fears that allayed Fitzmaurice's decision. As was reported in the Irish Examiner, the new Kerry manager is not necessarily opposed to revitalising some of the habits of old.
I don’t see a problem, it served us well over many years. You look at the town of Killarney and there is almost a mini tourism industry built around that.
You often hear about people coming down from Armagh or other counties to watch Kerry training in the summer.
However, Keane was not planning on straying completely from the point that underpinned Fitzmaurice's decision; "Does that mean you bring them in all the time? Probably not. But there are times when I don’t see it as a problem to open them."
Fresh from guiding Kerry's minor footballers to their fifth successive All-Ireland title, Keane will undoubtedly be aware of the challenges that lie ahead as he attempts to mastermind the Kingdom's return to the top of Gaelic football.
