Eamonn Fitzmaurice has defended his decision to make the long journey to Kingspan Breffni Park for last Saturday's Fermanagh v Westmeath All-Ireland qualifier clash.

The Kerry manager, along with selector Diarmuid Murphy, travelled to the Cavan venue in anticipation that the Kingdom would be meeting the winners in the All-Ireland quarter-final. But Kildare's surprise win over Cork in Thurles a couple of hours later means the Lilywhites will instead provide the last-eight opposition for the All-Ireland champions.

Speaking to the Irish Sun, Fitzmaurice noted how Kerry had covered every eventuality by sending team trainer Cian O'Neill - a Kildare native - and selector Mikey Sheehy to Semple Stadium.

"We had both games covered. Cian O'Neill and Mikey Sheehy went to Thurles for the Cork-Kildare game and Diarmuid Murphy and I went to Breffni Park.

"Cian knows Kildare very well and would have worked with a lot of those lads when he was involved with their minors. So it was a no-brainer for Cian to go to Thurles and Mikey went with him.

"Diarmuid and myself went to Cavan because the chances were 2-1 that the opposition could come out of the game between Westmeath and Fermanagh. But it didn't work out that way and sure there's no big deal, I mean the two lads were in Thurles and it was on TV as well." 

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