Guiding Kerry to the final of the National Football League in his first season in charge, Peter Keane's side came up short against Mayo this afternoon in Croke Park.
Having gone in at the half-way point leading James Horan's side 2-03 to 0-05, a second-half run of Mayo goals ultimately left Kerry short and, in response to concerns aired by those assessing Kerry's performances to this point, raised further questions surrounding Keane's defensive options.
"There was a lot of talk after the game in Tralee," stated Keane in conversation with Oisin Langan for Off the Ball.
"Now, you look at that game and there were 11-scores; we got 11-points and they got 1-10.
"It's still 11-scores each, so I wouldn't get overly worked-up about it."
Notably, Aidan O'Rourke and Dara Ó Cinnéide shared their thoughts on Kerry's approach to defending on Off the Ball in the build up to this weekend's clash.
'If you think of the other best teams in the country, you know who is going to mark Conor McManus or Paul Mannion in a particular game.'
Do you agree with @AidanORourke's assessment of @Kerry_Official's weak spot? 🤔https://t.co/iM1Esu5h54— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 26, 2019
"Yes, the stats will tell you that they're defending better..."
But what's really going on with the Kerry defence? Dara O'Cinneide gave us an insight ahead of #KERvMAYO
Full preview w/@NathanMurf here: https://t.co/FWj2eKU0PK #GAA #OTB pic.twitter.com/kkwOKW6aN4— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 31, 2019
With the former Armagh man O'Rourke going so far as to suggest Kerry could be perceived as having 'wasted the league,' Keane has been happy with what he's seen.
"I thought Shane Ryan did very, very well today inside in the goal for us," stated Keane.
Looking onward from today's disappointing defeat to Mayo, Keane was only left ruing the fact that they would have to wait nine-weeks until the Munster SFC kicked-off.
Watch Peter Keane's full post-match comments below.
"I wouldn't be getting overly worked-up about it..."
Speaking to @oisinlangan after his side's defeat to Mayo, Kerry's Peter Keane doesn't necessarily agree with concerns surrounding his side's defence #kerryvmayo pic.twitter.com/H0JNue2f6L— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 31, 2019
