Jack O'Connor says a Director of Football is needed in Kerry to look after the welfare of emerging 'elite players'.

The Kerry minor manager believes that too much young talent is being allowed to slip through the net:

"I have been saying for a long time, that by right, there should be someone looking at the development of elite players in the county," the former Kingdom senior boss told The Irish Examiner.

"Everybody wants a piece of the young elite player and there is nobody overseeing the development of the elite players, and saying 'no, that guy cannot do that because it's going to affect his development' and so on.

"There is no doubt that there are players lost through burnout so we may have to take action in this county, so as to ensure that our best young players proceed up along to the senior ranks."

O'Connor is hopeful that the Hogan Cup-winning Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne contingent in his squad can lift the team for tomorrow's Munster MFC opener against Clare:

"A lot depends on how they come out of that Hogan Cup final," he adds. "I am presuming they have come out on a high after such a brilliant win, so the adrenalin is high, but it is also very draining on the lads after their exploits in Croke Park.

"Winning might well enable them to lift it for Wednesday night's clash and they could also have a positive effect on the rest of the squad. The scheduling of the Clare game is unfortunate coming so soon after Saturday.

"You would think they could have done with a week, but that's the hand we have been dealt." Tweet

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