At the beginning of the year, there were grounds for real optimism, as Kerry’s senior side started off in the search of an unprecedented three-in-a-row; a feat that is unheard of in the modern era.

Early on in the year, we had the under-21s fantastic All-Ireland final win against Kildare. This was a very fine Kerry under-21 team, backboned by captain, Killian Young, David Moran and Tommy Walsh.

Winning under-21 titles is important because it guarantees the sustainability of the conveyor belt. When one considers that the average age of the six Kerry senior forwards this year was only 25, it is reassuring that the well of upcoming talent is deep.

Most successful senior teams are built around one or two successful under-21 teams.

At senior level, any other county in the country would regard a year in which they were only the kick of a ball away from winning a third consecutive All-Ireland final as a successful season.

But not Kerry. That is why we have been so successful over the years.

It was a disappointing year for the Kerry senior football team for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the fact that they were beaten by Tyrone - who have defeated Kerry for the third time in championship football this decade - hurts this current team. Losing to the Ulster side was a bitter pill to swallow.

Secondly, the very high standard of sportsmanship and discipline on the field, that has been the hallmark of Kerry football, slipped during the year, and it ultimately cost them the title.

Nevertheless, I believe that the motivation to address these two problems will be the major driving force for this Kerry team in 2009, by both the new management and players.

The ability is there, so with renewed discipline and focus, Kerry supporters can look forward to the New Year with confidence.

The Paul Galvin affair really captured the imagination of the media. I have no doubt that it did interfere with the focus of both the players and the management throughout the summer.

Paul accepted the fact that he was out of order, nevertheless I believe that the severity of his sentence was too much,

It was a case of where the people in power wanted to make an example because it was such a high profile one.

Players usually learn from their mistakes and I have no doubt that we will see a very disciplined Kerry in 2009.

The other high profile incident involving the Kerry senior football team in 2009 was the allegation that Aidan O’Mahony tested positive for the substance, Salbutamol.

It is clear to all that he was prescribed this in the form of medication for asthma, from which he has suffered with since childhood.

At this point, I presume that the debate centres around how much above the accepted level of Salbutamol was in his system.

I believe that the procedure of testing involved is not sensitive to the needs of gaelic players. Amateur players should not be presumed guilty until proven innocent.

Making public statements about their presumed guilt does too much damage to their professional lives and their chosen careers, not to mention the personal trauma it causes their immediate family and friends.

What difference would it make if the initial findings were kept confidential, thus giving the amateur sports person the chance to defend himself.

If he fails to make a valid case, then by all means make the findings public.

I am not making the point that gaelic players should be exempted from drug testing, because I believe in the concept of testing.

What I don’t believe in is having a system where the amateur player is presumed guilty before he has the chance to make a case for himself, while also making the matter public.

This is an issue for the GPA that must be addressed immediately with both the GAA and the Irish Sports Council, otherwise in the future we will have similar cases to that of Aidan O’Mahony.

During the year, I was pleased to see that the Munster Council has reverted back to the open-draw system in both the hurling and football championship.

I believe having a system that saw Kerry and Cork being kept apart so that they will meet in the final was strictly for financial reasons, and it was flawed.

With the backdoor system, attendances at Munster finals are down and I am sure if one of the so-called weaker counties made it to the provincial decider, the novelty factor for their support base would guarantee a sizeable attendance.

Secondly, the open draw enables the weaker counties to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which is good for the promotion and development for football in these counties.

The Munster Council should be complemented for getting rid of the open door system.

Finally, the GAA authorities are having another crack at improving the level of discipline on the field of play.

A couple of years ago, a number of experimental rules were tried out but halfway through, the powers-that-be bowed to the pressure from managers and players by calling of the whole experiment.

This time they are adamant that there will be no going back.

The new rules will be tried out in the McGrath Cup and the National League. If successful, they will be discussed at Congress and made law.

If the purpose of the exercise is to make it more acceptable for the skilful player to express himself and to make the game more attractive as a spectacle, then this experiment will be worthwhile and it deserves the support of all.

During 2008, football in Kerry, just like the economy, had its disappointments but there are plenty of reason to be optimistic for 2009.

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