Rising Kerry GAA star backed to take things to next level: 'He’s a great character'
Wayne Quillinan was Tomás Kennedy’s manager with the Kerry minor team when the Kerins O’Rahillys youngster first came on the inter-county scene in 2023.The now 19-year-old has since spent two seasons with the Kingdom Under-20s (and is still underage this year), before being called into the senior squad last summer.However, it was the opening Allianz League Division 1 game this year where Kennedy really made his mark, hitting 1-3, including a last-gasp winning point, against Roscommon.“It was not surprising. I had the pleasure of dealing with him for one year with the Kerry minors. You have two types, the player and the person and, as a person, he just soaks up everything,” said Quillinan.“You could see it with his performances, even when he was 17 years of age with the minors. His ability to learn, his ability to pick up things, is just fantastic.“Obviously he’s in now with the seniors and he’s getting really good coaching from the lads and I think, physically, he has developed.“His aerial ability comes from his basketball background as well. He played underage basketball for Ireland for two years before he went in with the Kerry minors.“His physical development has enhanced that, and the timing of the jump, your handling of the ball, all of that will come from basketball as well.”Kennedy got another 70 minutes under the belt against Donegal in Ballyshannon a fortnight ago. That was a different game, with the youngster being held scoreless.He is not an unknown quantity any more, added Quillinan, who believes that his card will already be marked by opposing managers, including Galway, who arrive in Tralee this evening (5pm).“Managers, coming up with a gameplan against Kerry, will now be saying that Tomás Kennedy is a guy to be reckoned with.“They can’t be leaving him isolated, particularly with a lot of space around him.“Adapting to the physicality of the game will be a huge part of his learning, because I think he has the smarts around the game to be able to handle everything else.“Sean Fitzgerald of Galway is one of those teak-tough defenders. He’s hardy, and the other side of it is that he gets forward as well, so Tomás will have to be watching that side of the game without the ball.“If you’re a seasoned full-back, you’re challenging yourself to say there’s no way this young fella is going to get the better of me, so they’re going to raise their game again.”Today’s home clash with the Tribe, and next week’s trip to Croke Park, will continue to fast-track Kennedy’s development, as will the presence of Kieran Donaghy on the Kerry backroom team.“With Kieran anyway, Kieran will give him nuggets. There is no better man inside there that has played at 14 for Kerry for so long. He’ll do a lot of one-to-one work with him and he’ll build his confidence.“I presume he will do a lot of clips, so he will be vital. Tomás couldn’t have asked for a better guy to coach him and give him the little things that will improve his game, and bring it to the next level.”With Donaghy on the sidelines and leaders like David Clifford and Paul Geaney to learn from on the pitch, Quillinan is confident that, come summer, Kennedy will be ready to challenge for a Championship start.“I think so, and it even goes back to the Cavan game last year where he got a little cameo, and he was still making an impact. Tomás has already developed strength to his game, and the physicality.“There are learnings as you go through it, but he has built things to take to the next level, without a shadow of a doubt, and to be an option for Kerry come Championship time.“He’s a great character. I’ve stayed in touch with him, and message him. Going back to him as a person, you just want him to do well. You’re rooting for him big time, and that’s probably the bottom line.”Quillinan, who managed the minors for three years, expects others to follow in Kennedy’s footsteps.“Tomás is a prime example of it not being about age. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich will be one to watch and I will give you two others - Killian Dennehy and Gearoid White.“They have the drive, they have the application, they have the attitude.“It’s fantastic to see Aodhna and what’s he done (with An Ghaeltacht), because he has all that.”Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond.
