Legenedary Kerry footballer Paidi O Se has taken the county’s current stars to task for “whinging” at referees.

O Se has criticized the modern trend of talking back to match officials and is concerned it is creeping into Kerry football. He told the Irish Sun, “It’s a thing I have studied very closely. It’s the one characteristic I’ve noticed that has crept into Kerry football.

“It was never part of Kerry football, not when I was growing up or when I played or when I was manager. We’re getting into this habit of questioning decisions and getting into arguments and portraying ourselves as whingers.

“It’s something I’d like to see blocked out of our game. You train and prepare to do your job as a player -- let the referee do his.

“They’re over-reacting at the moment, questioning a lot of what the referee is doing. But he’s not going to change his mind. They’re doing themselves more harm than good.”

O Se doubts the players are following orders when they engage in verbals with referees.

He added, “I can certainly tell you Jack O’Connor is not telling them to crib at referees. Jack wouldn’t be part of that, it’s not in his make-up.

“It’s only the players who must take it upon themselves to behave themselves. There’s a duty to play well but there’s also a duty to wear the jersey with respect and honor.

“We’re proud of our football in Kerry and every day we take to the field with the green and gold jersey is a proud day for us.

“It’s important to Kerry that this pride is developed and expressed on the field in the best way, not by giving out to the referee all of the time.”

Cody’s Tribute

Kilkenny boss Brian Cody has paid tribute to the players who have recently retired from his squad, but insisted he had no part to play in their decision.

Eddie Brennan, Mick Kavanagh and James Cha Fitzpatrick are amongst the handful of senior players to quit the county squad in recent months.

He told the Irish Examiner, “These lads have given serious years of service when you think of the likes of Mick Kavanagh, Eddie Brennan who have been there so long.

“PJ Ryan hasn’t played for as many years but, age-profile, he would have been there as well. John Dalton and Cha are obviously very, very young and there was surprise there. But that’s just the way it works.

“It was their own decision. Regardless of who it is, I don’t torment the lads from September until January. They live their lives and we all carry on.

“At the start of the year, when the time comes along, we get together and we have a chat about things. It was strictly the lads’ decision and I wouldn’t be pre-empting what they’ll do.

“They make their decision, but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t take a decision if we had to. We do whatever we think is right. The lads involved are very, very fit. Their fitness levels really aren’t a reason they should go, or anything like that.

“Obviously, all players reach a stage where they decide they are going to call it a day and that has to be respected. But the more often we can see the top players playing the better.”

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U.S. Football

The Notre Dame Preparatory High School Saints will meet the Father Judge High School Crusaders of Philadelphia in a unique game at Navan’s Pairc Tailteann at the end of August.

Three American football showcases will be held in Ireland day featuring a total of 12 teams from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. The fixtures will take place on the eve of the Emerald Isle Classic at the Aviva Stadium between Notre Dame and Navy.

GAA Shorts

Monaghan and Kildare have been fined ****5,000 each for the recent brawl in their NFL game in Clones, with the Ulster county ordered to play their next home league game as an away fixture. Both counties have indicated they will appeal the decisions.

Kildare selector Niall Carew has been handed a four week suspension after the dispute, while their defender Brian Flanagan has received a one match ban . . .

The Croke Park authorities have come down heavily on the clubs involved in the recent Portlaoise fracas. Tyrone side Derrytresk have been banned from all national competitions for five years, while Kerry junior side Dromid Pearses must serve a three year ban. Both clubs have said they will appeal . . .

Ulster will meet Munster in the inter-provincial football final after wins over Connacht and Leinster respectively on Sunday. Leinster will play Connacht in the hurling final after beating Munster and Ulster respectively.

Garrycastle from Westmeath and Crossmaglen Rangers from Armagh will contest the All-Ireland club football finals on St. Patrick’s Day after wins over St. Brigid’s and Dr. Crokes respectively in Saturday’s semifinals . . .

The GAA is to establish a National Hurling and Camogie Development Center at the Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus as part of a new hurling development program . . .

All-Ireland winner Tom O’Sullivan has yet to make any decision on his future with the Kerry team but Sean O’Sullivan has definitely retired from action with the Kingdom . . .

Fermanagh continued their revival under new boss Peter Canavan with a 2-15 to 0-9 win over London in the NFL Division Four game at Ruislip on Sunday . . .

Kerry midfielder David Moran faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a second cruciate knee injury in the space of 10 months . . .

Down forward Danny Hughes expects to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play against Kerry in the National League next month . . .

Dublin's DCU won the O’Byrne Cup final with a 3-7 to 1-12 win over an experimental Kildare side in Portlaoise on Friday night.

Soccer Shorts

Kevin Kilbane is the latest big name linked with the vacant manager’s job at Sligo Rovers, but his lack of coaching badges is causing a problem with the FAI. Former Luton boss Mike Newell and Damien Richardson are also in the frame, but Roddy Collins is no longer a contender . . .

Shamrock Rovers have signed Swedish under-21 international goalkeeper Oscar Jansson on loan from Spurs until the end of June. Boss Stephen Kenny has also signed winger Aaron Greene from Sligo and goalkeeper Conor Winn from Galway . . .

Reading manager Brian McDermott, who qualified to play for Ireland, is the latest name linked as Mick McCarthy’s potential successor at Wolves . . .

Cork City boss Tommy Dunne has agreed a loan deal for Northampton striker Tadhg Purcell . . .

Striker Dean Kelly has left Shamrock Rovers for Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic.

Sports Shorts

Athletics: Track legend Sonia O’Sullivan will be the first Olympic torch bearer when the iconic flame arrives in Dublin in June ahead of the London games. Boxers Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough will also be involved as the torch travels from Belfast to Dublin . . .

Rugby: Irish teams enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Celtic League over the weekend. Munster won 35-14 away to Treviso and Leinster beat the Scarlets 16-13 at the RDS. Connacht drew 13-13 at home to Glasgow but Ulster went down 21-14 in Cardiff . . .

Rugby: Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary looks certain to seal a move to French side Perpignan while teammate Peter Stringer could turn his loan move to London club Saracens into a permanent switch . . .

Boxing: Ulster’s Brian Magee successfully defended his WBA interim super-middleweight belt when he knocked out Rudy Markussen in the fifth round in Denmark on Saturday night . . .

Cricket: Ireland got back to winning ways with a 117 run victory over Kenya in Mombasa on Monday.