Kerry U-21 manager Sean Geaney believes the joy experienced by his All-Ireland winning players has vindicated the GAA’s decision not to scrap the U-21 grade.
Proposals to drop the competition were rejected last year, and the jubilation displayed by players and supporters from the Kingdom at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening has gone some way towards underpinning its value and securing its future.
‘I would hope that they’ll hold on to the U-21 competition, because it’s a super competition,’ said Geaney, whose side bridged a 10-year gap with a 2-12 to 0-11 win over Kildare in a high-quality decider.
‘If you ask any of those players, they’re just thrilled with it. The standard is very high, and I hope they hold on to it.’
While Kerry have been winning All-Ireland senior titles on a regular basis, they have struggled at under-age level, and Geaney believes it was vital that they triumphed in Thurles.
‘The fact that Kerry win a lot of senior titles hides the fact that we haven’t been winning under-age titles. And I think its great now that we he got an under-age title.
‘A lot of those players have lost All-Irelands. David Moran, Tommy Walsh and those fellows lost in the All-Ireland minor final two years ago and some of the other lads lost the year previously.
‘So if we had lost this one, it would have been heart-breaking stuff for them. The fact that we come from Kerry clouds that side of things.
‘It was an extra motivation, for we didn’t want to be there again. My heart goes out to Kildare, for we have been in that position where it’s nothing but heartbreak and it’s such a lonely feeling.’
A handful of the triumphant side have already broken into the senior squad, and Geaney believes more can follow, but only if their attitude is right.
‘It depends on the players themselves, if their attitude is right and if they’re willing to work. Nobody is the finished article. You’re always learning.’
