Jack O’Connor is the new manager of the Kerry Under 21 team

At tonight’s County Committee meeting in Austin Stack Park, Jack O’Connor (Piarsaigh na Dromoda) was named Manager of the Kerry Under 21 Football team for the next 2  years in succession to Darragh Ó Sé. This will be Jack’s second involvement with the Under 21s having served as a selector under the late Paidí Ó Sé during which time Kerry defeated Mayo in the 1995 final, before subsequently taking over as Manager and winning two All Irelands, in 1996 with Seamus MacGearailt as Coach when Cavan were defeated and two years later in 1998 with Johnny Culloty as Coach when the Kingdom defeated Laois.

Currently manager of the County Minor Team, Jack’s entire focus will be on that team for the duration of the Minor Championship.

His appointment as Under 21 manager at this stage is to oversee the putting in place of a programme of Strength and Conditioning for the Kerry Under 20 Development Squad in conjunction with the county’s Coaching and Games Committee.

Jack will name his Under 21 Management Team once his tenure with the Minor team comes to an end.

Jack O’Connor Profile

Jack O’Connor’s managerial record has seen the Dromid Pearses man involved with 15 All Ireland winning sides. He guided the Kerry Vocational Schools side to back to back All Ireland titles in 1992 and 1993 as well as being at the helm when Scoil Uí Chonaill won an All Ireland schools title in 1997.

His proven record with schools side reached a climax in 2009 when he guided Coláiste na Sceilge to All Ireland Colleges Hogan Cup victory against St Marys of Edenderry and he had the added satisfaction of seeing his son Eanna score the winning goal on that day.

Jack of course had two stints as manager of the Kerry Senior Football team guiding them to All Ireland glory in 2004, 2006, and 2009 completing League and Championship doubles in those years.

His appointment as Kerry Minor Manager last year resulted in Kerry’s first All Ireland title in that grade since 1994 with victory over Donegal last September.