Kerry GAA secretary Peter Twiss believes that criticism of the approach to appointing a new football manager was “appalling”.
There was widespread condemnation of the selection process that was put in place in the Kingdom, a process that eventually saw All-Ireland winning manager Jack O’Connor return for a third stint in charge of the senior intercounty team.
The criticism levelled at the Kerry county board was regarding the manner in which they snubbed then manager Peter Keane at the end of his three-year spell.
Twiss was not acceptant of that narrative, however, when he published his annual report on Wednesday.
“Jack O’Connor’s appointment was ratified unanimously at a county committee meeting on October 4 after a very thorough, transparent, and well-established selection process. Attempts by some to discredit the process and question the integrity of the selection committee were appalling, to say the least,” he said.
“Why someone or some group of people would deliberately set out to tell lies and spread misinformation, target members of the selection committee, in order to undermine their credibility, was quite shocking and disturbing.
“To those who acted in this way, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You were willing to discredit the good name of decent people, damage the proud name of Kerry GAA because they happened to hold a different view to yours.
“I am happy to have been part of that selection committee, to know that every single member acted honourably and with the sole intention of doing what, in their view, was best for Kerry.
“Even more impressively, they got on with their business and refused to engage in the circus that, unfortunately, others who should have known better failed to digress from. My thanks again to you all. You did Kerry GAA a good service.”
He also thanked Peter Keane for his service to the county and paid special recognition to Keane for his handling of this year’s delayed All-Ireland semi-final with Tyrone due to several positive coronavirus cases in the eventual All-Ireland champions’ camp.
The Kerry county board secretary said that it “will go down in the annals of the GAA. Not least for Kerry’s great sportsmanship in ensuring the integrity of the All-Ireland SFC of 2021 was upheld by agreeing to facilitate Tyrone with a second postponement. We salute Tyrone, they won the game on the field of play as it should be and congratulate them on going on to win the championship.”
