As the post mortem continues into Kerry’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final loss to Armagh, Eamonn Fitzmaurice has attributed their demise to a lack of tough tests beforehand.

"Kerry never looked like All-Ireland champions elect this year. There was never that purpose or rhythm about them," the 2014 All-Ireland SFC manager told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"A team that wins an All-Ireland, as a season goes on, you can see the ingredients. When you look back, you can see the tell-tale signs.

"In Kerry, we kept expecting them to catch fire. I think when the draw for the group stages was made, we were a bit disappointed. Because they were going to win those games and there wasn't going to be a challenge there.

"I was actually quite worried last week. I looked back at the Derry game. On the second viewing, Derry were actually wrecked (after going to extra-time and penalties against Mayo).

"We felt in Kerry that 'ah, that was a good test, that gets them ready for a semi-final'. But on reflection, I was saying it actually wasn't."

Fitzmaurice continued: "Armagh were battle-hardened. Galway, in the other semi-final, were seriously battle-hardened as well.

"That's why I often laugh at Sean Cavanagh, in particular, who loves to say 'ah, Kerry and Dublin with their handy routes to semi-finals and finals.' I know from being on the inside, if you're trying to win an All-Ireland, you much prefer a route where you're tested week in, week out.

"You just don't get to replicate those type of games and those type of scenarios in training. So, Kerry were probably the opposite of battle-hardened. That showed as the game went on.”

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