EAMONN FITZMAURICE was confirmed for a third term as Kerry senior football manager at Tuesday’s Kerry county board meeting, with his management team to be confirmed at a later date.
The Finuge clubman, who guided the county to the 2014 All-Ireland title, will be in charge for the 2017 and '18 campaigns, meaning he will have been in situ for six years at the end of this latest term, following his initial appointment to the role for the 2013 campaign.
Along with the 2014 All-Ireland, Fitzmaurice has guided Kerry to a provincial title in each of his four years in charge, with three Championship defeats to Dublin in 2013, '15 and this year the only blemish on an otherwise impressive reign thus far as Kingdom manager.
Kerry acted swiftly to retain Fitzmaurice’s services in the wake of the latest defeat to the All-Ireland Champions and his appointment was confirmed without any objections at Tuesday night’s meeting. While his first term encompassed three years up until the end of the 2015 campaign, he was retained for a further year in the present campaign with this new appointment for a further two years.
Fitzmaurice has also had the distinction of managing Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne to the 2014 Hogan Cup Schools title during his time in management, defeating St Pat's, Maghera in the decider in Croke Park.
One setback for Fitzmaurice, however, is that Kerry’s planned centre of excellence, which was due for opening over the winter months, is not likely to be ready for use now until the middle of next year.
