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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
Sport
Paul O'Hehir

John Egan refusing to believe that Kerry left their chance behind in All-Ireland Final

Sheffield United team-mates will have to form an orderly queue behind John Egan when they leave the Bramall Lane car park this Saturday evening.

The Ireland defender will be dashing back to his city centre home to catch the All-Ireland football final replay between five-in-a-row chasing Dublin and Kerry.

And the logistics of it all have crossed his mind once or twice in recent days.

With a smile, he said: “We’ve got Southampton at home at 3pm and the game’s on at 6pm – it’s a weird time for an All Ireland.”

Egan is a Corkman but green and gold courses through his veins as he is the son of the late Kerry legend John Egan Snr, winner of six-All-Ireland medals.

Sporting a Kerry jersey, Egan was at Croke Park for the drawn game eight days ago.

Ireland and Blades team-mate Enda Stevens was supposed to go with him but dropped out.

But Egan was there with his family and his pal, the former Kerry player Barry John Keane.

Egan is refusing to believe that Kerry left their chance behind.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said yesterday ahead of a likely start in tomorrow’s friendly clash against Bulgaria at Aviva Stadium.

“I think it’ll be another good game and the Dubs are good. But about 15 of the Kerry players were playing in their first final and that’ll stand to them.

“A lot of people say they left it behind, but I think it’s only the start for this Kerry team and hopefully the forwards can do well again and get them over the line.”

Egan continued: “Even though the Dubs had a man sent off, up until then I didn’t think there was much in the game.

“It’s going to be a big ask to beat Dublin but Kerry have got to be confident and take a lot of belief from the last day.”

But while Egan loves Gaelic football, he doesn’t regret his decision not to follow his father into the inter-county game.

“I suppose inter-county is only great when you’re winning. So around the days when Kerry won an All Ireland or two, you’d think about it now and again.

“But I’d never, ever change my mind. I really enjoy playing football every day and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

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