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Dublin: 16 °C Thursday 20 June, 2013

End of the line: Jack O’Connor resigns as Kerry boss

The Kingdom are on the hunt for a new manager after the 51-year-old decided to move on today.

Image: ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan

UPDATED 17:15

A WEEK ON from Kerry’s All Ireland quarter final defeat at the hands of Donegal, Jack O’Connor has decided to put an end to his managerial reign in the Kingdom.

The Dromid Pearses man led the county to three All Ireland titles in his two spells in charge. A statement released by Kerry GAA this afternoon said:

“The chairman (Patrick O’Sullivan) wishes on behalf of Kerry GAA to thank Jack, his selectors and backroom team for all their commitment and hard work over the past number of years.”

O’Connor’s decision comes little over two days after he and the board announced that no decision on his future would be rushed into. Yet the 51-year-old O’Connor clearly felt a change was needed for both parties before handing his resignation to O’Sullivan.

As Kerry have never crossed county lines in search of a manager, under-21 coach Eamonn Fitzmaurice is the first name to be linked with the vacant post.

Waterford win has given us momentum – Jimmy Barry Murphy

Cork are probably the most improved team in the country – Regan

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Comments (68 Comments)

  • He’s given great service but he’s made the right decision
    Kerry need new blood and new thinking

    Reply
  • No shame in going out the way he did, he has given the best part of fifteen years in some shape or form to Kerry football and will retire one of the most successful managers of all time. Thanks for everything Jack and best of luck to you and your family for the years ahead.

    Reply
  • If they go outside the county for a replacement the obvious choice is Pep Guardiola.

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  • God lads, some amount of bullsh@t talk here. I’m a very proud Cork man, delighted to see Cork in two semi-finals this year and looking forward to going to Croker tomorrow. However, to stick to this thread, a very warm congratulations to Jack O’Connor for the many years service he has provided football as a whole throughout these past few years. He is a great servant to the game. The county of Kerry is the most successful Footballing county in the country by a mile and this has to be acknowledged, same as Kilkenny are the most successful hurling county. Cork are the most successful as a dual county which is plenty good enough for me as a fan and thankfully, our future is bright. Well done to Jack and I look forward to Kerry returning to their best as it makes for a more exciting championship. In the meantime, it’s great to see Mayo and Donegal up there and to see the championship blown open a bit. Let’s look forward to some great games ahead as fans of football and hurling!

    Reply
    • Thanks for your sound sane comments. Those who take part in sporting battle with passion and pride know what it is like to suffer the pain of defeat and the occasional joy of victory. Winning Sam or Liam has to be so much sweeter knowing that so many of our ‘enemies’ have been defeated.

      Reply
    • Jesus, can no one take a bit of a rise around here. I was actually shouting for Kerry against Donegal but the reaction of some people on here is so pathetic it’ll be the last time I ever shout for their team. Lighten up, clean rivalry banter has and always will be part of the GAA.

      Reply
  • Best of luck to him in the future.Any county would love to have him as their manager.He’s so dedicated.

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  • Best of luck jack and congrats on a job well done!
    To have achieved what u have and to be associated with one the greatest Kerry teams ever you deserve more than a pat on the back!
    You are a true gent, a true Kerry man and most importantly of all you are a true GAA man

    Taking on the job of the manager of the Kerry team is not an easy job
    Who ever the Kerry County Board appoint will have a tough decision to make!

    Reply
  • thanks for the memories jack your the best manager since micko and as dedicated

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  • The time was right, kerry co board need to step back and look at the entire set up. From Under age to senior. A five year plan as such. Thanks Jack kerry to rise again.

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  • neo1 12/08/12 #

    Diarmaid there are two clowns on this website and you are the two of them

    Reply
  • If Kerry don’t win a Munster or All Ireland for the next 20 or 30 years no one outside of Kerry will even bat a eye lid – Well done Jack all the same

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  • Brian 11/08/12 #

    Theres nothing more predictable than the vile that comes from cork everytime there is an article about kerry i mean get a life ye bunch of fools its no wonder everyone dislikes cork people. I wouldnt mind but there is so many decent cork fans out there and i know alot of them and they wouldnt lower themselves to the carry on of ye lot it just stinks of jealousy and its a nasty smell

    Reply
    • Brian I fully agree with you! Most cork fans are very genuine – but it’s the narrow minds and childish comments that make these idiots on forums that make themselves look like uneducated spoilt brats that only ever have the same phrases or snippets from the media to repeat!

      I hope Donegal win sam2012!

      There are lots reason that Kerry people are so football proud
      36 titles ( and counting) , are we not entitle to brag a little????
      Because of the rivalry from every other county that eggs us on more

      Like I said in an earlier comment
      Jack O’connor is a legend, Kerry has lost the most one of the most committed managers , Kerry will regroup
      For now jj nevin for gold !

      Reply
    • Ye two really crack me up. Everyone hates ppl from cork one of ye says and the other one agrees by saying that it’s Kerry v everyone else? Would ye ever lighten up ffs. It’s fans like ye are the idiots, can’t take an ole rollicking without having freakouts. Get a grip will ye!

      Reply
    • @Brian Every comment you make on the journal seems to be about cork people. “Everyone Hayes cork people”, what age are you? Please grow up and get that chip on your shoulder sorted…best of luck to jack o Connor. Great manager. Delighted to see him go in one sense due to the countless all Irelands Kerry won!

      Reply
  • The joy in victory is in competing and defeating the best.

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  • I’m not insulting other counties. Just you. You’re a muppet. And should be president of the muppet club. Listen. I can’t gang around here. I have 130 miles to drive to support the Dublin minors in Croke Park today.

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  • Diarmuid. The long and short of it is. YOUR’E A CLOWN. I’m a Dub married to a Kerry woman. My kids have both Kerry and Dublin jerseys and love to support their counties. One of the rules that we have in our humble abode is, we DON’T disrespect other counties.
    It might be worth your while to go down the same road of thinking as my 6 & 9 year olds instead of insulting other people for your own amusement.
    Very best of luck to you in the future.
    Regards.
    Derek.

    Reply
  • Can i just as a Corkman best of luck to Jack o Connor he was a fantastic servant to Kerry football and not all Cork people share Diarmaid’s views ,Diarmaid please stay in Dublin …..Rebels ABU

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  • Sad day for GAA, Great manager and indeed man.

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  • What county are you actually from diarmaid

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    • From Cork living in Dublin. I will for example wish Galway the best of luck today and I hope the best team wins. What the Kerry fellas here fail to tell you is that the Cork v Kerry rivalry goes back generations. Also fellas there like Bryan have written various derogatory remarks about Cork and their players on his twitter profile (which no doubt will now be deleted) yet come on here claiming I am the only one insulting, when in fact I was not insulting, merely making remarks tongue in cheek. On top of that you have people like Anita who claim “Corkies” have a superiority complex yet then give a rational for why Kerry ppl are cocky. Then Derek is trying to give me parenting lessons while calling me names yet claiming to be a great role model cause he doesn’t embroil himself in a bit of banter, just namecalls and insults ppl he doesn’t know. There is so many holes in the above posts I would be here all day if I was to go through them. In any event, you have all reacted and let yourselves down by making personal insults against me, which I would never do to anyone, full stop. Anyway I am off to support our hurlers and i have the football in a few weeks. I understand Kerry hands are idle at the moment so I ‘ll expect much vilification, however I haven’t the time to post here anymore, like Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Kilkenny, Tipp and Mayo I have too much supporting to do. Thanks for the memories lads!

      Reply
    • Stupidity backed up with lies-well done once again.
      Point out these various derogatory comments I have made about Cork players?
      I have played college football with a few of the Cork lads-cant see why I would insult them.

      Then running off pretending that you are busy so as to not have to explain your comment? Cover your ears there, you’re always right.
      Also I always view the ‘I was on the wind-up’ excuse as the last refuge of someone who has embarrassed in a debate/argument

      Reply
  • I’d love to see John Evans get a crack at the Kerry role. He’s proved himself with Laune Rangers in winning the club All Ireland and Tipp, especially at U21′s.

    Reply
  • Football has changed. Kerry will more than likely win a traditional style match by out scoring the other team. Mickey Harte has revolutionised football to counteract this , its been brought forward by McGuiness but we just haven’t caught up.

    Reply
  • What a legend.

    Reply
  • Brian 11/08/12 #

    Just to add to my previous comment two of the last three threads are about cork gaa and they have a total of three comments between them and the third is a kerry one and has 45 comments most of which are from people outside kerry! Get a life honestly its getting boring its the same few everytime

    Reply
    • Brian I admit I post in Kerry articles to draw a reaction, there I said it, but by god do ye leave yerselves open. Would ye ever lighten up and stop being such a bunch of sour grapes. Post in all the cork articles ya want fella, we won’t bat an eyelid cause we wouldn’t take anything a Kerry person would say seriously.

      Reply
  • Jumped ship as he knew there is only one team in Munster and two in the country that’ll be winning All Ireland’s for the next few years. Cork and Donegal are the new standard bearers.

    As for Spillane’s “puke football” comment, Kerry seem to be the only ones with an issue with it…. Brolly has a point, stand up to them, look them in the eye and they blink first.

    P.s. Joe Brolly is still a bollocks!

    Reply
  • Who will be next to lead those ‘animals’… ;)

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  • Has the demise of Kerry, as prophesied by the great Joe Brolly, finally come to pass?

    Reply
    • Well the demise of this Kerry team has, of course. That’s what happens. Teams get old and as there is no transfer market in GAA you can’t readily replace departing players with players of similar skill. Great teams come by once in a generation (If you’re lucky).

      But the demise of Kerry? Kerry have won an All-Ireland in every decade since the 1900s. We don’t do demises.

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    • Try telling Kildare that!

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    • Well done Kerry, ye play nothing but one sport and ye win a cup against counties who do at least once “every decade”. Great achievement for a county who likes to constantly remind the 31 of us that ye are the standard bearers! Ye really make me chuckle some times such is the delusion. What’ll ye play now?

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    • Thumbs up if you think the guy above me is one of the biggest whigers on the Internet

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    • Ah so make a point Kerry people don’t like, you’re a whinger, thanks for clearing that up while making a personal attack, you’re a classy act!

      Reply
    • What is your point exactly? Seemed nothing but caustic rambling to me. Enlighten me please, being from Kerry like, I’m probably a bit too thick to understand.

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    • I have no idea of your intelligence, I wouldn’t like to cast an aspersion on something I have no clue about, unlike some posters, however, my point is pretty damn clear from my initial post. I don’t feel the need to elaborate to you personally. So make all the personal off point digs you want. I’m talking about Kerry football which is the theme of the article, you’re rambling on about me personally and hillbillys so as I said already maybe you should take a look in the mirror before telling someone they need mental health, a comment that is grossly offensive by the way.

      Reply
    • Diarmaid I don’t think you should involve yourself in a conversation about Kerry football as your initial post highlights the fact that you know little about it and have no appreciation for some real achievements that Kerry as a footballing county have made.

      Reply
  • It was only a matter of time. At least he has the personal high of finally beating a Tyrone team in transition. Who’s going to join him?

    Reply
  • A sad day for football.

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  • Just hope we don’t have to put up with the puke football that Northern teams play.

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  • In breaking news! Kerry fans yet again can’t take a wind up. Oh wait that’s not news, they’ve always been sore losers!

    Reply
  • Yerra chrisht he’d a great ole run at it, yerra twas stacked against him and yerra the besht of luuk to him!

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    • No I have family in Kerry. You’re the one personally attacking someone on the Internet. Id say you should get the help there buddy.

      Reply
    • That’s a very intelligent contribution Diarmaid. Well done. I’d say you wouldn’t know a football if it belted you in the face judging by your comments.

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    • Childish. petty and obsessed as always-well done D

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    • The same Kerry people that insult 6 counties any given weekend about puke football and dirty play are telling me I’ve no clue about football and that I’m insulting, ha ha, I’ve heard it all now. Go on away ye sour grapes. Ye ve nothing to do till 2013, it’s awful I know but get over yerselves will ye!

      Reply
    • Brian I find it ironic that this is the second time you have attacked me personally yet I am childish and insulting. Let’s not forget how I found you out last time too, so if I were you I’d pipe down rather than asserting I should.

      Reply
    • Found me out? In your mind only.
      Personal attacks- can you not see the irony of coming on to every article about Kerry and throwing about idiotic comments- then cribbing when someone calls you up on it?

      Found me out- you’re as delusional as you are petty

      Reply
    • Who did I attack personally from Kerry Brian? Enlighten me please, go through every post in this article I wrote and enlighten me please. You’ve a gripe with me for some reason, if you don’t like what I write don’t read it or else report me. I have an opinion, you don’t like it, get over it will ya!

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    • Diarmaid is a crank looking for a reaction. He spews much the same nonsense about Dublin.

      Reply
    • Who did I attack personally from Kerry Brian? Enlighten me please, go through every post in this article I wrote and enlighten me please. You’ve a gripe with me for some reason, if you don’t like what I write don’t read it or else report me. I have an opinion, you don’t like it, get over it will ya

      I see we are back to the same problem as last time- you misinterpret intentionally what I type in order to, poorly, try make a point.
      I never mentioned you attacking an individual- I mentioned you’re idiotic comments in reference to Kerry and Kerry people.
      A gripe with you? You’re on the defensive now but dont give yourself that much credit-there’s no gripe at all just a need to call you up when you start making a fool of yourself.

      You dont have an opinion- you have a childish, attention seeking need to insult.

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    • There there Brian. Back to your boring little sterile world. Id like to just point out for your benefit that I was merely duplicating a comment theme expressed on another website that is a jest at the Kerry managers lingo and post match interviews. Far be it from your remit to have knowledge of that before spewing rubbish but just a heads up that you clearly have no idea about gaa if you think I came up with such a piece.

      Reply
    • Its really hard to decipher what you’re typing-I’m not being the grammar police here, but for godsake use punctuation.
      Anyway, you said that you’re rehashing a comment-its worrying that you didnt even have the ability to come up that comment.
      I have no knowledge of GAA because I havent seen the comment you made on a different website? Thats some logic you have there

      Reply
    • You’re as predictable as ever Brian, criticising grammar again, there there Brian, have the last word again this time round, I know you want it!

      Reply
    • So once again-you realise that you are embarassing yourself and you make a break for the high ground?
      Well done again

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    • That’s it Brian! Just had to tell you you are exactly right, you and all the Kerry folk are so intimidating I am running for high ground, safe in the knowledge that I have bad grammar, don’t know anything about Kerry football, you’ve too much time on your hands and like to get the last word always, that we won’t see the Loop the Loop jersey again until 2013 and the Kerry fans on here are sore losers. Go on, apologies again, have the last word, don’t want to steal your self righteous thunder!

      Reply

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