All-Ireland winning manager slams ‘outrageous’ rumours of fall-out with star player

The forward missed a number of games in the League with a knee injury and rumours began to circulate that he had fallen out with manager Jack O’Connor

Jack O’Connor, the Kerry manager, has lauded praise on star player Seanie O’Shea, dismissing rumours of a fallout between the two during the League. O’Shea was absent from several League matches due to a knee injury, including a crucial game against Armagh, despite having scored 17 points in the first three games of the season.

“Even Gavin White got asked in some press conference had I fallen out with Seanie O’Shea,” O’Connor mused. “That’s an example of the madness I am referring to that can spring up like a geyser down here when you have a rocky period in the season.

“Conspiracy theories come from all angles and that was one of the more bizarre, outrageous ones.”

The Kenmare ace didn’t recover in time for Kerry’s surprise qualifier loss to Meath, but he made a triumphant return in the following match against Cavan. He played a pivotal role in Kerry’s All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Armagh, helping the team build crucial momentum towards winning the Sam Maguire Cup, reports the Irish Mirror.

“Gavin (White) is the captain, and was a brilliant captain this year, but Seanie is the captain every day,” O’Connor told The Examiner. “There are some players, unique players, that don’t just play their own role well but they make other people around them play better.

“The week before the Meath game when I knew he was out, I was really down because I knew, this is not good. Because Seanie will do whatever it takes. In the Armagh quarter-final, when there was a lot of heat on David (Clifford), he took on the mantle of scoring.

“In other games he can be the playmaker, the tackler, the fella who wins breaking ball, the one who goes back and wins a critical turnover, or a kick out, he links the play. He does whatever it takes. I would have him up there with (Seamus) Moynihan in terms of inspiration and leadership.”

The Kerry boss, who this week agreed to stay in his role for another two years, reckons this was Clifford’s finest ever campaign in the green and gold.

“All I’ll tell you is this was the complete package from him this season,” O’Connor remarked. “David played the best football of his life in 2025. Without a shadow of a doubt.

“Long before the All-Ireland final this was apparent to those of us watching him week in, week out. He seemed to be enjoying football, injury free, he came back full of enthusiasm, the rules gave him a new lease of life. He has a massive effect on the lads around him.”