06-07-2025
Emotional Kerry manager fights back tears after All-Ireland final defeat
An emotional Wayne Quillinan told of how proud he was of his players after Kerry's All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final defeat to Tyrone.
The Red Hands beat the Kingdom by a single point in Newbridge on Sunday after an enthralling game of football that could have gone either way.
Kerry led by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time, but Tyrone, who were without star forward Joel Kerr following his move to West Ham, battled back against the wind in the second half, with Kerr's replacement in the starting XV, Diarmuid Martin, scoring the winning point in added time.
Quillinan was visibly emotional as he spoke to TG4 immediately after the full-time whistle and paid tribute to his players.
He said: "We always talk about the game, its margins, tiniest of margins. Unfortunately, we suffered on the wrong side of it today.
"I just have to say, those lads that we have, those minors, were absolutely unbelievable today.
"Those Kerry Minors this year have given us so much, they've given the county so much, they've given it a lift. Hearing the crowd today and seeing the seniors in Croke Park, for me, it's what our county is about.
"As Kerry people, we've just got to realise that we're stronger together. We're stronger together. Hopefully, our seniors can do the job next Saturday.
"Just at the minute, it's a desperate one to take. I'm not talking about myself, it's just when I think of the players, when I think of their families and their clubs and the whole journey they've been on."
"It's at an end now and it's my job to go to that dressing room and tell them how proud we are of them, the standards they've kept all year.
"Our county can only just get better when we have not just great players, but great young fellas coming through the whole time."
Quillinan added: "Our lads are made of the right stuff. I think they've proved it time and time again this year against Cavan, they've proved it against Mayo, they've proved it again today, they've proved that they're made of the right stuff. And if you're made of the right stuff, Kerry will look after you."
