Young determined to heal some old wounds

UNDER-21 ALL-IRELAND FINAL:KERRY FOOTBALL is experiencing a drought. Sounds strange, but the fact remains a minor All-Ireland has not been down to the Kingdom since 1994, while the under-21 title has been elsewhere for 10 years now.

When Kerry made the 2004 minor decider Seán Geaney was manager, as he is tomorrow when the under-21s face Kildare in the All-Ireland final in Semple Stadium.

Another survivor from that forgettable afternoon in Croke Park four years ago is captain and current young player of the year Killian Young.

The defender burst onto the scene in 2007, indirectly replacing the great Séamus Moynihan as Aidan O'Mahony moved to centreback and Young slipped seamlessly into the senior team at wing back.

The priority these past few weeks has been to add an under-21 All-Ireland medal to the one already garnered at senior level.

"We're all aware it has been 10 years since the last victory. There is a lot of talk around the county. It would be nice to get a bit of silverware, even though there are still players coming through.

"It is not that much of a worry, but you still want silverware and medals in your back pocket. That's what it is all about. Other than that, we really want to win it for ourselves and not for anyone else."

To that end, along with a number of team-mates, Young has suspended interest in the main Kerry camp until after Saturday.

Not that there will be any time for celebration as, come Sunday morning, it's straight up to Dublin for a flight to Portugal, as Pat O'Shea intensifies the defending champions' training regime.

"I was pulled away from the seniors so I could be focused on the under-21s," Young explains.

"I was better off as well because you wouldn't know if you were coming or going with the training. All the under-21s (on the senior panel) put down our heads and said: 'Look, we'll concentrate on this for the next couple of weeks'."

Despite the lack of success, Kerry folk can be content with the current conveyor belt of talent but there are two issues that do need addressing: that 2004 defeat to a cynical, albeit superior Tyrone side and the shock loss to Clare in last year's Munster under-21 championship.

"It is fellas that we grew up with since under-14s so it makes it that bit sweeter winning with your best friends.

"There is a lot of hurt still from 2004 so hopefully we'll put it right the next day."

For Young, Paul O'Connor, Tommy Walsh, Kieran O'Leary, David Moran and Paddy Curran, there is no fear of missing out on senior recognition as Geaney doubles up as a selector under O'Shea.

The same can be said in Kildare as the recently-retired Glenn Ryan guides the Lilywhites into battle in Thurles.

Ryan's relationship with senior manager Kieran McGeeney as former playing rivals runs deep, as captain Gary Whyte explains: "Glenn Ryan is a special figure in Kildare. Everyone looks up to him and listens to him. Even McGeeney."

Kerry are seeking a 10th title while Kildare scaled this mountain just the once, back in 1965, although they did topple Ulster champions and favourites Down in their semi-final.

"At the first meeting of the year Glenn Ryan told us our goal was an All-Ireland final. We never talked about Leinster. We're here now."