Paudie stepped away from the training pitch for a short time on Saturday to cut the ribbon at the new JD store at Killarney Outlet Centre which has created over 15 new jobs, both full-time and part-time.

He was in big demand for snapshots, selfies and autographs from a host of Kerry supporters – of all ages – and wide-eyed young fans were thrilled to meet and greet the all-action hero who captained Fossa to the All-Ireland Junior Championship title in Croke Park last January.

Paudie said he expects the latter stages of the Kerry senior championship to be far more competitive than the prolonged group system and that players with ambitions of making it at an inter-county level will have an opportunity to catch the eye of Kerry team trainer Jack O’Connor in the coming weeks.

“This is probably the time for players to stand up,” he remarked.

There was an electric atmosphere in the Killarney Outlet Centre for Saturday’s opening with a long queue forming to avail of some incredible opening day discounts.

The JD Outlet, in a prime 7,400sq. ft. space, will generate a very significant footfall given the popularity of the brand.

The exciting new addition will concentrate on the provision of the latest trends from the biggest brands in sportswear and it will be a big hit with sports enthusiasts and fashion-conscious shoppers.

JD is a global retailer of sports fashion branded and own brand casual wear, combining internationally recognised brands such as Nike, adidas, Puma and The North Face, with strong own brand labels such as Pink Soda and Supply & Demand.