JACK TO THE FUTURE

IT'S 21 years since Jack O'Connor first managed Kerry in an All-Ireland senior football final. On Sunday, he faces into his eighth decider at the helm.

- BY JOHN O'DOWD

Gaelic football is a different sport to 2004, especially after the FRC rules alterations this season. The Dromid Pearses native is also a different man at 64 than he was at 43.

“It was a bit simpler when I got involved first. I was doing nearly all the coaching myself, with some bits and pieces of input from the selectors,” he said.

“I was stuck inside in the middle of the training games, and coaching the drills. In some ways, that was more enjoyable.

“Nowadays I am managing a backroom team who manage the players. I'm not saying I don't have input here and there, but I'm not as hands-on as I used to be.

“It's maybe better because, with backroom teams the size they are, you have to change. You can't do it the same way you did it the first time. You have to adapt and change, as the circumstances change.”

With four All-Ireland titles from his three spells in charge of the Kingdom, along with the experience of losing three finals, O'Connor has learned an awful lot.

“You pick up a couple of things, mainly in terms of what you need to avoid, and being economical with your energy. There is no point in being all wired to the moon and having all your energy spent by the weekend of the game.

O'Connor's been down this road many times over with Kingdom