Selector Mikey Sheehy is predicting a bright future for Kerry football after yesterday's All-Ireland senior and minor double.

Sheehy, who won eight All-Ireland medals during a glittering playing career in the 1970s and 1980s, said: "There is nothing that can compare with being out on the field, but it is an amazing feeling to be involved with these lads today.

"The future is bright in Kerry. A couple of years ago when we got involved we were having a bad run in the league and were lucky we were not relegated. But we stuck together, developed players and always knew there were good footballers coming through. We knew things would eventually turn around."

The Kerry legend acknowledged that the younger members of the squad needed to grow up fast in the wake of the retirements of Paul Galvin, Tomas O Se and Eoin Brosnan, and Colm Cooper's season-ending injury.

"One thing about the retirements and then the injury to Gooch - one of the greatest footballers I have ever seen - is some of the young lads stepped up to the mark. In a way, it worked as a positive rather than a negative.

"Because of what happened, we needed them to grow up as footballers. And they did.

"All through the season they got better; we had a tough battled up in Ennis the first day, we improved against Cork, did fine against Galway, had two great battles against Mayo and then this display today."

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