O'Connor: Kerry needed all their experience to get over the line

June 28, 2026

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor and David Clifford celebrate the win over Tyrone ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor says it took all of his team’s experience to get over the line in yesterday evening’s cracking quarter-final clash against Tyrone.

Armin Heinrich’s goal 10 seconds before the hooter sounded at Croke Park sealed a 2-25 to 0-27 win for the All-Ireland champions and, with it, a place in the semi-finals in two weeks’ time.

Speaking to media afterwards, O’Connor said his group “showed great heart” too see off what was a mammoth challenge from the Red Hands in the capital.

"[It was a] fierce tough battle," he told RTÉ Sport. "Tyrone were every bit as good as we thought they would be, and they probably at times looked a bit more energetic than us out there.

"This was our third week in a row, and we thought at times maybe it told in our legs out there. Croke Park is an unforgiving pitch if you haven't got energy. But we showed great heart."

He added: "I'll tell you, it took all our experience to get over the line there. They more than hung in there. They were highly dangerous, and (Darren) McCurry did damage late on.

"But at that stage, we just didn't have enough legs to go with him. We had a plan for him, because we knew he'd come on."

"We have room for improvement, but delighted with the effort today."


Most Read Stories