Only once in the last 37 years have Kerry retained an All-Ireland, and Diarmuid Murphy is the sole link to that achievement in 2007 and the side now seeking to emulate it.
Sixteen years ago, Murphy was the Kerry goalkeeper as they backed up the previous year’s demolition of Mayo by beating Cork comfortably in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final, making it the first time that the Sam Maguire Cup had been successfully defended since Cork themselves did it in 1990.
Murphy is now in his second stint as a Kerry selector having retired as a player after the 2009 All-Ireland win and while current manager Jack O’Connor was in charge in 2006, he stood down in the aftermath, with Pat O’Shea at the helm when they retained the title the following year.
