As far back as the beginning of September it was clear that the Kerry football vacancy would be contentious.
As Jack O'Connor walked out on Kildare having apparently agreed to stay put, it was going to be a hard task to persuade some people, if he got the Kerry job, that there hadn't been some soundings taken.
A week ago, the sub-committee charged with recommending an appointment, decided to go with O'Connor rather than Peter Keane, the outgoing manager, or a galactico cast of former players and coach, Donie Buckley.
It is clear from his statement issued on Friday afternoon that Keane feels aggrieved at the process that saw him passed over for a further term as Kerry football manager.
The most striking aspect of the statement, which was emailed to media from the former manager’s personal email account, was the charge that the sub-committee in its “decision making process” had not considered “the wishes of the players,” which he said had unanimously “communicated to the county board sub-committee their strong preference for the present management to be retained”.
It has been exhaustively covered that the choice of O’Connor was simply an option for the tried and tested. He won the All-Ireland in the first year of each of his two previous appointments whereas the other choices on offer hadn’t that pedigree.
Was Keane taken aside and apprised of the sub-committee desire for change – so that he could have had the cover normally extended to a departing manager of making his own exit? Or did he believe that he had as good a chance as either of the other two proposed management teams?
Ultimately though, this is style rather than substance. Of course he should have been treated courteously but on the substantive issue of reappointment, Keane can’t have too many complaints.
Players for the most part are happy with incumbent management but that doesn’t mean they won’t be ready and willing to work with whoever new is appointed.
In his first appointment after Páidí Ó Sé’s awkward departure, O’Connor had to negotiate a dressing room with a substantial West Kerry presence as well as members of the Ó Sé family. He has also worked with a number of the current panel as minors.
Secondly, Keane was on less secure ground when referencing the work “we had started and the momentum we had built”. Although he is right to kick back at any implication that losing an All-Ireland semi-final to the eventual winners Tyrone after extra-time is unacceptable, the problem is that it was a third defeat in successive years by different opponents.
He would have known at the start of his appointment that were he to complete the three years with no All-Irelands and the closest encounter to have come in his first season, there would be no certainty of a renewed tenure.
The process hasn’t been terribly well-handled but the county was within its rights to opt for a different approach.
