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2015 All-Star goalkeeper walks away from the Kerry squad due to lack of game time

Brendan Kealy was between the posts in the Kingdom’s league final victory over Dublin in April.

2015 ALL-STAR goalkeeper Brendan Kealy has opted to step away from the Kerry senior football squad but has not closed the door on a return at a later date.

Kealy held discussions with Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice where it is believed he expressed his disappointment at lack of game time in this year’s championship.

Kealy (31) rotated the goalkeeping gloves with Brian Kelly throughout the league and was between the posts when Kerry finally ended the Dubs’ long unbeaten run in that thriller in Croke Park last April.

However when it came to the Munster SFC, Brian Kelly got the nod against Clare and Cork, doing nothing wrong on both occasions.

Earlier this season at pre-championship briefing Fitzmaurice informed the media that he was planning to introduce a third keeper to the Kerry panel after the Munster final but refused to go into any more detail.

On Tuesday night two young goalkeepers – Shane Ryan (Rathmore) and Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes) – took part in Kerry senior training for the first time and will now have to fight to see who wears the number 16 shirt as cover for Kelly.

Shane Ryan until recently had rarely played in goal for Rathmore, playing in the full-forward line instead but he has won two All-Ireland minor medals with Kerry as well as being their U21 keeper.

Shane Murphy has played minor and U21 with Kerry and was the Dr Crokes keeper who this year helped them win that coveted All-Ireland senior club title in Croke Park.

Kealy from Kilcummin played with the Kerry minors and U21s and made his Kerry senior debut in the league 2010, winning one All-Ireland senior medal, an All-Star, 1 NFL medals as well 5 Munster SFC medals.

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Murt Murphy
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