Amateur ethos under threat

When asked what he feared might have the most detrimental effect on the GAA down the road, he feels that professionalism and hangers-on pose a huge threat to the amateur status of the GAA. This is something that GAA President John Horan also alluded to in a speech last weekend.

“Dublin are the benchmark as they are heading towards a five-in-a-row and the back-up both financial and in terms of personnel that they have at their disposal is unbelievable. So in Kerry, either we sit down and take stock or we decide to go toe-to-toe with them. As much as Peter Keane can go toe-to-toe with them on the pitch, we must support him as a Board by making the necessary resources available to our inter-county teams and we cannot be cutting back. The executive and board must not be found wanting in this regard.” But Lynch has watched as the volunteer is being replaced by a professional. “Unfortunately, the day has come where a lot of the people who were doing this on a voluntary basis are now being replaced by professional people or people who are being paid to put it quite bluntly.

Challenging times for new-look Kerry

Kerry played second fiddle to the top 4 sides in the country – Dublin, Tyrone, Galway and Monaghan – in 2018. In their six encounters with ‘Top 4’ teams in this calendar year, Kerry did not win a single league or championship match.

In the League, Kerry lost against Dublin, Tyrone, Galway and Monaghan and in the Championship, they lost to Galway and drew with Monaghan. In their six games against top 4 sides in 2018, all Kerry could manage was one draw and five losses.

Facts are facts. Kerry failed to register one win against any of the top four in 2018 in the League or Championship in six attempts.

When we look at Kerry’s win ratio for 2018 it is at a lowly 50% well below even the likes of Galway, Monaghan and Tyrone.