Killian Young pictured at the launch of the FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games.
By Cian O'Connell
As an intriguing All Ireland SFC Semi-Final edges closer Killian Young is satisfied with how Kerry have dealt with different challenges this summer.
Victories over Clare (twice) and Tipperary have guided Kerry into the penultimate round with Young encouraged by the progress being made by talented youngsters in the extended panel.
“We prepared like we would for any team,” Young commented about Kerry’s approach against Clare and Tipperary. “You have to be professional and cold. I suppose that’s why we never really struggled against those teams where if you weren’t 100 per cent right on the day or mentally at it you could be really caught out.
“We got through it and the biggest test for us now is going to be internally in relation to training. We have a couple of young fellas, we have eight Under-21s after coming through, there is a real freshness in the squad. There is a great bite in training.”
Kerry’s ambition is to reclaim Sam Maguire. “Of course, there's serious aspirations there in relation to that,” Young admits. “The overall goal for us is to win an All-Ireland, in relation to what we do and how we set out at the start of the year. That is the focus. All we can do is focus on ourselves.”
Podge Collins and Killian Young during the All Ireland SFC Quarter Final.
At the quarter-final stage Kerry were always in control against Clare. “The main thing was to get the result and then beyond that of course we could have played with a bit more flair maybe on the day,” Young reflects.
“There were a few unforced errors and was probably a bit sloppy at times. It was a game that we had the result in the bag and it was just a matter of getting through it. There are aspects we are going to need to improve on.
“I suppose we were fortunate that for the unforced errors we did make on the day that we weren’t punished for them.
“Thankfully we kept a clean sheet anyway, that was the main thing. They were always going to have a go because in fairness they had nothing to lose at half-time as well.
“They have been playing good football all year, they were there on merit, they got promoted out of Division 3, beating Kildare in the final, they have some good players and I think there is a bright future on the football scene in Clare.”
