Fionn Fitzgerald not dwelling on Kerry exclusion
Friday 8 February 2019 13:38, UK
Fionn Fitzgerald says that he is not overly fussed with being excluded from the Kerry panel.
The 2018 captain is not in Peter Keane's plans for the coming year, but the Dr Crokes club man hasn't spared too much thought to the matter.
Following Kerry's elimination last summer, the corner back was straight back into club action as Dr Crokes won a third county championship in succession, before regaining the Munster title. Add his own wedding into the mix, and it's been a hectic few months for the 28-year-old.
"I don't really have an opinion on it and that's not flunking the question or anything," he said of his exclusion, and the fact that he wasn't personally informed that he would not be included. "I'm very happy with Crokes and I'm very happy with where I'm at and really looking forward to next year. I'm not really going to look back in the wing mirror too much. That's the honest answer. Kerry will move on, I'll move on. That's where it's at. I'm happy out.
"I'm not really going to look back in the wing mirror too much. That's the honest answer. Kerry will move on, I'll move on."
"My status is Kerry is done for me really. I'm very happy with Crokes. I'm not back in with Kerry next year. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be different next year. It'll be different this summer, it'll be different these couple of months.
"It's been a hamster wheel really for the last seven or eight years between Crokes and Kerry.
"I got married in December and I was on honeymoon. For the last two months, between that and getting back into work in Crokes, I've had plenty to get my teeth stuck into."
Fitzgerald hasn't been keeping a close eye on the Kingdom's fortunes given his busy schedule in recent weeks, but did attend the Allianz League opener at home to Tyrone.
"Kerry were good, they were grand; it wasn't Kerry's fault but I didn't particularly enjoy the game," he said of the low-scoring win over Tyrone, after which the Ulster side were criticised for their style of play. "It wasn't a great game. It was tough and intense but it wasn't a brilliant game to watch.
"It's better to be winning games, of course, but I think the most important thing really is that you're trying to develop a team to see where you're going to be at for the championship.
"If you did well in the league, it would be bonus territory.
"I still think league and championship are a different ball game. That would be my answer, it's not giving you the 'yerra Kerry' line or anything but it is a different ball game. You're looking really at - if you're contending for an All-Ireland - where are you at in August."
