Éamonn Fitzmaurice was surprised by Kerry manager Jack O'Connor’s decision to take aim at his team’s detractors following their swashbuckling All-Ireland SFC quarter-final win over Armagh.
The All-Ireland champions were sent packing from Croke Park as a devastating 15-minute spell in the second half saw Kerry reel off 14 points unanswered and ensure their passage to the last four despite some indifferent form this season.
"We were being portrayed as a one-man team," he said, while also appearing to have a swipe at Darragh Ó Sé in the Irish Times, who said there was an air of inevitability about Kerry exiting to Armagh at the quarter-final stage.
"Dublin got beaten by Meath in the Leinster Championship and I didn't see any ex-Dublin players coming out slating the team or slating the management like we had down south in our county," he added.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, Fitzmaurice said given the nature of Kerry’s performance, he was taken aback by O’Connor’s comments.
"I was surprised because generally after a win like that, Jack is effusive," he said.
"I’d say on a human level he was hurt. I know he had a small bit of a nibble after the Cavan game last weekend, but he obviously decided this week that he was going to unleash the double barrel.
"He had his say, and probably feels better for it today."
Having entered the game as underdogs, Fitzmaurice, who led Kerry to Sam Maguire in 2014, says they’re was much to enjoy from a Kerry perspective with a return to the capital in a fortnight to take on old foes Tyrone.
"It was an amazing performance," he said. "The last few weeks, as it has turned out, has been good for them, because it has brought an edge out in them.
"I was proud of the players and the approach of the management team. You could see what it meant to the players afterwards.
"The trick now will be trying to get to that level again in two weeks' time."
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