Non-committal Jack O'Connor ponders management future after guiding Kerry to another All-Ireland title

RTÉ News​

27-07-2025

Jack O'Connor hinted that he might be bringing his management term to an end after guiding Kerry to a fifth All-Ireland title in three different terms.
It's a third treble, following on from successes in 2004 and 2022, after National League and Munster Championship victories earlier in the year.
"I'm a long time at it, and I might be passing the baton onto somebody else," he said on RTÉ's Sunday Sport.
Pushed as to whether that was the end of his third spell in charge, he added: "That was the plan anyway, so we'll see."
Asked again in his post-match press conference, the five-time All-Ireland winner seemed non-committal.
"I'm on record as saying it's my last hurrah... But there's no hurry."
While O'Connor considers his future, he can reflect on All-Ireland number 39 for the game's most successful county.
It's a second in four seasons, and with a cohort of players in their 20s in the panel, there's no reason why the current crop can't add more titles in the years to come.
"You can't beat panel spirit. We said what happened to Cork last week wouldn't happen to us."
Kerry boss Jack O'Connor looks back on winning the final #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/GiIOlJgZeB
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 27, 2025
Kerry burst out of the blocks to take the lead after 13 seconds with a point from Dylan Geaney, with David Clifford's haul of seven points pushing them into a seven-point lead at the break.
They always had Donegal at arm's length with Joe O'Connor capping another sensational performance with a goal at the death.
And for the manager, it was a performance built on massive spirit within the camp.
"If you take the year as a whole, we had a lot of adversity," O'Connor told RTÉ Sport after the game.
"We had a lot of injuries, we lost a lot of good men but we had a tremendous panel spirit.
"We had men like Mark O'Shea and Seán O'Brien, lads like that that didn't think they'd be near the team, starting midfield in an All-Ireland final for Kerry.
"It's the stuff of dreams so I'm delighted for them all. A massive team effort, panel effort, backroom team effort, so I'm thrilled for them all.
"We'd two big performances here against Armagh and Tyrone. We felt that we were well tested coming into the game. Maybe the hammering that Donegal gave Meath two weeks ago mightn't have done them the same amount of good that our game with Tyrone did.
"We felt we were well tested, we were in great shape leaving the hotel this morning. There was a great atmosphere in the room, just a great anticipation, ready for battle.
"The boys fought on their backs out there."
Donegal did have periods of momentum in the game but they couldn't get closer than four points in the second half.
The gap would have been five at the break only for David Clifford to land a two-pointer with the last kick of the half.
"There were times when Donegal looked like they were coming back," O'Connor acknowledged. "I think that two-pointer before half-time was a massive score by David. It was a massive fillip going in at half-time.
"We said in the dressing room that what happened Cork last week wasn't going to happen us. We were going to come out and play and we were going to try and win the second half. We did win the second half by three points so overall it was two good halves.
"We needed to get our hands on the ball, use up the clock and get a good shot off. Near the end we were able to enjoy the last three or four minutes after Joe got the goal.
"I'm thrilled for them all, this was a tough auld year. There were times when we were well tested this year but I'm delighted that it finished like it did."