Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice has welcomed the emergence of Tadhg Morley this summer.

The Dublin-based schoolteacher made his Munster SFC debut at left half back against Clare last month after not playing any part in the Kingdom's Allianz League campaign. His non-involvement was partly due to a long winter campaign with Templenoe which culminated in them winning the All-Ireland junior club title in February.

"He's been living and working in Dublin for the last four or five years. So that has been a challenge for him," Fitzmaurice said in the Irish Examiner.

"He's a primary school teacher so he's off for the summer. Thankfully, he's nearly there now.

"He's been on the radar for the last couple of years. He was in and out of the squad last year without being a bone fide member. The [club campaign] was a challenge for him, of course, but he was doing the S&C programme the lads were doing. It's worked out better for him this year. "

While Marc Ó Sé and Jonathan Lyne lost out to Morley and fellow newcomer Brian Ó Beaglaoich for starts against Clare, they haven't been feeling sorry for themselves.

"I've to give massive credit to the lads for as long as I've been involved, every fella reacts in a very positive way. They fight for their spot after they've been left out and after they get less game time than they figure they should get," the Kerry manager added.

"The environment we try to create is that there is a very healthy competition within the squad and fellas are battling for their positions. They know that nobody can take their place for granted and you have to be playing well at a given time to get on the team."

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