Micheal Quirke has described Donie Buckley's exit as "a massive loss" to Kerry football.

According to former Kingdom midfielder Quirke, the Castleisland man's decision to quit as Kerry coach represents a major blow to Jack O'Connor's championship preparations.

"It's a big blow to Kerry. When he was involved last year, and even though I came back late, the boys were raving about him and they were delighted with his stuff. It was all new, it was different every night, the ball-work, the conditioning games, it was really interesting and it was great that it wasn't the same stuff every session.

"It was really tough and really intense but it was enjoyable, and those sort of guys don't come around every day," Quirke continues in The Examiner. "I am shocked that they have left him go without putting everything they have into keeping on to him.

"Now I know, to be fair, that Donie was away because he had an operation on his knee so he was out of action and he couldn't come down for a spell. But he was back and ready to go, and whatever is after happening, it's just very disappointing for the county.

"I was talking to a couple of the players and they are very disappointed he is not going to be involved any more. They were big fans of his work." Tweet

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