Jack O'Connor laments Kerry's 'butchered' goal opportunities

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor lamented some poor Kerry finishing in front of goal in their narrow defeat to Derry, but was buoyed by the Kingdom’s second-half display in their league opener.

The 2023 All-Ireland finalists welcomed Mickey Harte to Tralee on the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League, but it was the Oak Leaf County that claimed the final score of the game with the clock in the red to edge out a 0-15 to 2-08 victory.

Derry raised a few eyebrows with a team selection that included Conor Glass, Ciarán McFaul and Ethan Doherty six days on from Glen's All-Ireland club glory.

Harte's side dominated the first half and the early stages of the second, but were forced to withstand Kerry’s second-half rally, with Shane McGuigan landing a late free to seal the two points.

With Derry's defence creaking as the game progressed, Conor Geaney and Dylan Casey breathed life into the Kerry performance by raising green flags, while full-back Jason Foley was denied by a point-blank Odhran Lynch save.

Throw in two Derry goalmouth clearances that only required a Kerry touch, and it is understandable why the home supporters could lament the narrow loss. It was a sentiment shared by the team manager.

"It seemed like we butchered two or three goal chances that we created in the second half," O’Connor told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "I felt if one more of those went in, we’d have got a result.

"We butchered two or three goal chances."

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor rues missed opportunities in the Kingdom's opening league defeat to Derry this evening.