Joe O'Connor delighted Kerry management staying on

Safefood, in collaboration with the GAA, today launched 'Fuel Their Game', a new suite of resources designed to support youth players, parents, and coaches in making informed food choices to enhance their Gaelic games activity and overall health and wellbeing. Pictured at the launch in Croke Park is Kerry Footballer Joe O'Connor demonstrating the importance of healthy eating and hydration for peak performance. For more information and to access the resources, visit: https://learning.gaa.ie/fueltheirgame. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell

Joe O'Connor is delighted that Jack O'Connor has opted to remain in charge of the Kerry senior football team.

Following a hugely successful campaign which culminated in All-Ireland SHC glory, the Austin Stacks clubman acknowledged the contribution made by O'Connor and his selectors in 2025. "Yeah, I suppose we'd a new enough team this year, with the selectors coming in," O'Connor says.

"Things worked fairly well for us. There was a nice, fresh feeling down there so we were all keen to get them back, so it is great."

Cian O'Neill, Aodán MacGearailt, James Costello, and Pa McCarthy were part of O'Connor's coaching set-up. "I found them excellent," the Kerry star added.

"From the word go, they were just really helpful in terms of bringing on individual players, creating a real atmosphere for learning in the group, making sure we were growing every week, which was great for us, challenging us, things like that.






Kerry's Joe O'Connor pictured before the 2025 All-Ireland SFC Final at Croke Park. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
"It has been great. We'd ups and downs too, they stuck with us. We backed them and it was a great year looking back."

That willingness to adapt and improve is crucial according to O'Connor. "Time flies by fairly quick," he says.

"I've only been playing this year and last year properly. I'm 26 so you want to get the best out of yourself while you can.

"That just comes down to every week being eager to learn, constantly knowing you've to improve because how competitive it is these days with other counties, even within your squad.

"That is probably a personal thing where you've to find that drive to constantly improve or else you'll fall behind the pack."