ALL-STAR FORWARD David Clifford may make his seasonal debut for Kerry against Mayo on Saturday night in their sold-out Division 1 encounter at Austin Stack Park.
Clifford underwent surgery on his shoulder during the off-season but Kerry manager Peter Keane said the attacker is “not far away” from a return to the field, while James O’Donoghue is in a similar position.
“James trained last Friday night with us,” said Keane. “He is close enough and will be training again this Wednesday night so we will be in a better position than to evaluate both players.”
Two players who’ll miss out this weekend are David Moran and Paul Geaney. The pair are also unlikely to return in time for the round 7 clash against Roscommon.
“Paul Geaney has had a procedure done on his back and will not available on Saturday night or probably for our trip to Roscommon and the same applies to David Moran who has tendinitis,” said Keane.
The Kerry boss confirmed that Killian Young is a long term absentee, but the players who featured for their clubs on Sunday – including Tommy Walsh, Gavin O’Brien, Jack Sherwood, Tomás Ó Sé and Adrian Spillane – are available.
Jack Barry, Seanie O’Shea and Dara Moynihan were held back from club duty because of their workload since mid-January.
“We are reasonably happy to have five games won but ultimately that was not the plan,” added Keane.
“It was not the plan to win five games, or to lose five games, it was to try and put a team together and so far so good. Ultimately we just wanted to put a team together because it was new to us at senior level and the players were new to us.”
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Just looking at it for a minute as I flicked around the channel and it seems a shame to have so many empty seats for an all Ireland final. I sure the football final in two weeks time would be something similar. Would it not be an idea to play both the football and the camogie final on the one day. It still wouldn’t fill the stadium and it would save the cost of opening the stadium for a second day.
@mickmc: or Gaa fans could support their county teams.
Very good idea Mickmc … then you wouldn’t have to post you sarcasm again next Sunday.
@Adrian Costigan: Well the economic reality is they don’t support this particular code in any great number. Ideally the game should be played in a smaller stadium but of course that would be regarded as sexist blah blah blah. Holding the two games the one day like in the quarter finals of the men’s competition would make much more economic sense.
@Rory Murphy: Can’t see there too many empty next sunday
Sincerest apologies… read your initial comment wrong… thought you were on about next week! … how daft do I feel now.
Go on the Rebelettes!!! Rena Buckley, what more can you say 18 AI medals. A warrior
HT Cork the better team so far but havent managed to put it on the scoreboard.First ten in the second half will tell alot.
Doesn’t make sense having it on in Croke Park. A bit embarrassing really – an all Ireland final and only 10 or 12 thousand in attendance. Varadkar doesn’t look too happy being there.
Cork the far better team but Kilkenny are clinging onto them.
@John Ryan:In fairness Varadkar did not look any happier last sunday when those strapping lads from Galway went up the steps to him.:-):-)
Rena Buckley is a phenomenon, what a sportsperson.
Eimear O’Sullivan for Player of the Match, she was outstanding!!