James O'Donoghue felt he wasn't worthy of a Kerry jersey in the lead-up to the Munster SFC final.

The All-Star forward said the negativity that surrounded the Kingdom's preparations for the Pairc Ui Chaoimh showdown made him question himself, and was ultimately the motivation behind a man of the match display which saw him register 0-10.

"It's tough being down in Kerry sometimes with that stuff because Kerry people are so forthcoming with their opinions. You ask if they're going to the game and they'll say, 'Nah sure why would I go down to see them get bate?' O'Donoghue said yesterday.

"That does stir something inside you. It's rare it happens in Kerry but when it does, of course you get that bit of a kick up the backside. You're kind of questioning are you a true Kerry player? Do you deserve to be wearing that shirt?

"Eamonn (Fitzmaurice) had asked us questions like that: do you really want to win an All-Ireland? It's up to us now to go on."

Kerry's stunning performance means there is a very different mood in the county now as another All-Ireland quarter-final in Croke Park beckons.

"I think the big thing for us is that if there's anything, they will latch on to it," the Legion man continued.

"The whole county is kind of up again after the Cork win and everyone's really getting behind the team again, which is really important, especially when the age profile is so low.

"Sometimes you just need that bit of momentum and encouragement from around the place." Tweet

Most Read Stories