There is disunity in the Kingdom. Tomás O'Sé elaborated on a twitter interaction with Tadhg Kennelly in his Irish Independent column yesterday, in which he admitted that he "hates" Kennelly's work with the AFL:
If I met him tomorrow I'd say straight up: 'Tadhg, I've nothing against you personally. But I hate what you're doing'.
A lot of Tadhg's former teammates are sick of this too, they just don't feel comfortable saying it. But I think [David] Clifford leaving would be the straw that broke the camel's back.
O'Sé writes of Kerry being taken advantage of, and laments the entire situation:
I want the best young Kerry players to stay at home. To follow their dreams here, not on the far side of the planet. And I happen to think we are being taken advantage of here. Especially in Kerry where the success of three consecutive All-Ireland winning minor teams means there are rich pickings to be had in the county. When you think of the time and effort put into those players by club coaches, by parents, by the county board, it's just plain wrong that someone can swoop down from outside and take them away.
Rumours are rife that Kerry's minor superstar David Clifford is heading Down Under for trials within the next few weeks, with the worry among GAA circles in Kerry that Clifford will follow another prodigious talent, Mark O'Connor, to professional sport in Australia.
O'Sé wrote about O'Connor in yesterday's column, saying there are "people in Dingle heartbroken" that O'Connor has left. He has made a sensational start to professional life, however, and made a first senior start for Geelong within six months of joining.
O'Connor took to twitter yesterday to respond eloquently to O'Sé column, backing Kennelly while doing so:
I don't like to get involved in these arguments but I think it's about time to give my point of view. I'm disappointed that people can't see the positive impact that Tadhg has had on my life.
"Protecting players from Australian clubs" would also be protecting me from all that I've gained here in my short time with Geelong and Australia. If you "can't blame young men for following their dreams abroad", then surely you can't blame the man that makes those dreams a reality.
I am nothing but grateful to Tadhg for all that he has done for me. It bothers me that a man can give young people a golden ticket in life only to be abused for it. That's not right.
With all due respect @tomas5ky, I simply can't agree with that article. pic.twitter.com/KUbjWacYOI
— Mark O'Connor (@MarkOConnor15) May 21, 2017
Ray Connellan, a former Westmeath footballer who is now playing with St. Kilda, was also unhappy with O'Sé's article:
I would suggest you start speaking to us lads that Tadhg has helped! I love your passion for GAA but honestly you've not got a clue...
— Ray Connellan (@ConnellanRay) May 21, 2017
