Fitzmaurice: we need to tighten up

August 24, 2015

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice and trainer Cian O'Neill celebrate. INPHO

Eamonn Fitzmaurice was concerned about the number of goal chances Tyrone created in yesterday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

A more clinical team would have punished Kerry, who were also lucky not to concede a second penalty when Tyrone substitute Padraig McNulty was grounded in front of goal.

"They did create goal chances. We gave away the penalty, it's something we're going to have a look at," the Kerry manager admitted.

"Sometimes you can put the emphasis too much on ourselves, you've to give Tyrone credit as well. We were playing a serious running team in an All-Ireland semi-final and that's their biggest strength when they come at you in serious numbers through the middle.

"When you're open, they can create those goal chances, so of course it's something we have to look at, but it's great that we're there and we're looking at it over the next couple of weeks and not looking at it next February or something."

Fitzmaurice defended his skipper Kieran Donaghy, who was replaced by Paul Geaney at half-time.

"To be fair to Kieran, in the first half the service was poor," he pointed out.

"He was getting on the ball which was at his feet, surrounding by four or five Tyrone men. The supply into him wasn't great.

"He caught a great ball just before half-time and kicked a great point. We just felt that with Paul Geaney it would be a slight change in emphasis up front. Paul did very well in the second half.

"It just worked out a bit better for us. The lads out the field, the accuracy improved in the second half. Paul won a bit of ball into his chest that maybe Kieran wasn't being supplied with in the first half."


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