Former AFL player Colm Begley said Kerry have a right to feel 'aggrieved' about the drain of star talent to Australia but counts himself lucky that he got the opportunity. All-Ireland-winning Kerry manager Jack O'Connor complained over Christmas that the AFL 'are getting away light' without compensating GAA units for special talents. "Kerry are probably right to be aggrieved," said Begley, a two-time Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup winner who was speaking ahead of this evening's final between UCC and UL. "But Kerry, they're right to be aggrieved, obviously losing high talent. And who knows, maybe Mark O'Connor comes back in a year or two and helps Kerry win another one."

Source: Irish Examiner February 11, 2026 17:45 UTC