Advertisement
Kerry forward James O'Donoghue. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Doubts over James O'Donoghue's Kerry future as forward steps away from squad

The Killarney Legion player has struggled with injury issues in recent years.

JAMES O’DONOGHUE LEFT the Kerry senior football squad over the weekend and returned to his club Killarney Legion, casting doubt over his future with the Kingdom.

It is not clear if O’Donoghue holds any ambitions of returning to the squad, with Kerry chairman and senior football team liaison officer Tim Murphy confirming the forward is no longer part of the senior setup as Peter Keane’s squad prepare for Sunday’s Munster final meeting with Cork.

“To be fair to Peter Keane, this probably happened post Friday’s media briefing, during which the Kerry manager had indicated that James was battling for a place in the matchday 26. 

“James indicated that he wanted to take some time out from the Kerry setup and play some club football to see could he get some form back and see where that would take him.

“It probably means that he will not be involved if we beat Cork because we have a very short window with everything to be completed within four to five weeks if Kerry do go all the way (to the All-Ireland final).”

O’Donoghue lined out for his club Killarney Legion on Saturday evening, scoring the opening goal in a win over Kenmare Shamrocks and finishing the game with a total of 1-2. He was only on the field of play for the first half and did not reappear for the second half of the game.

O’Donoghue has not been part of any Kerry matchday 26 so far this season and did not feature in a Kerry A v B game played last Saturday. 

His last game for Kerry was a league meeting with Galway in February 2020, where he scored 0-2 in the opening half before being replaced by Tommy Walsh at half-time.

He also played in the opening league game of 2020 against Dublin, scoring 0-3 before being replaced by Killian Spillane in the second half.

And it now appears the 31-year-old Killarney Legion star is close to calling time on his intercounty career having been plagued by injuries over the past number of years – playing only 85 minutes of football for Kerry in two seasons. 

The 2014 Footballer of the Year was part of Kerry’s All-Ireland winning side that year, and has two All-Stars and eight Munster Championships to his name. 

Meanwhile, Kerry forward Dara Moynihan is rated as extremely doubtful for Sunday’s Munster final at Fitzgerald Stadium, while Tony Brosnan is fully fit.  

– First published 12.06, 20 July

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

View 18 comments
Close
18 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peadar
    Favourite Peadar
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 12:41 PM

    A great player especially in 2014

    145
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Howard wolowitz
    Favourite Howard wolowitz
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:22 PM

    What a player! Such a shame injuries got him.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Murphy
    Favourite Brian Murphy
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:33 PM

    Will be put down as a career lost to injury but he never seemed to have the right stuff upstairs to have what could have been an incredible career. Pity. Plenty of guys with half his talent did lots more.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Doyle
    Favourite Anthony Doyle
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:22 PM

    If you put the Cork and Kerry starting 30 players on the field Dublin would still shred them to pieces

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Howard wolowitz
    Favourite Howard wolowitz
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:23 PM

    @Anthony Doyle: I’ve never read such BS.

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ultan Corcoran
    Favourite Ultan Corcoran
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:57 PM

    @Anthony Doyle: If that were the case we’d be lucky to score 0-5 against a Cork-Kerry XXX nevermind “shred them to pieces” hahahah. Please stop giving more humble Dubs a bad rep with this sort of brown talk.

    70
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Ó Siocháin
    Favourite Liam Ó Siocháin
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 5:45 PM

    @Anthony Doyle: They’d want to be with the pick and cash they have.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Cronin
    Favourite James Cronin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2021, 2:00 AM

    @Anthony Doyle: Our in sun too long ya clown,

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Exiled Dub
    Favourite Exiled Dub
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 1:13 PM

    Kerry are weakened now big chance for cork to retain their crown

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G
    Favourite G
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 1:19 PM

    @Exiled Dub: He hasn’t even made the 26 man panel at any point this year

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Fitzgerald
    Favourite Eoin Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 2:13 PM

    @Exiled Dub: what do you mean ‘Big chance for Cork to retain their crown’? Tipperary won it last year?

    253
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Kennedy
    Favourite Joe Kennedy
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 4:23 PM

    @Eoin Fitzgerald: he’s gone dotty with the heat or something maybe!

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben White
    Favourite Ben White
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 5:02 PM

    @Exiled Dub: nothing about this comment was right

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Cronin
    Favourite James Cronin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2021, 1:58 AM

    @Exiled Dub: Oh Dear lad…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin O'Sullivan
    Favourite Kevin O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 4:52 PM

    Fantastic talent and believed he still had something to offer the county. Great to see him excelling at club level.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Burke
    Favourite Michael Burke
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 5:37 PM

    Dublin can be heaven, and we can make it seven.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary O
    Favourite Gary O
    Report
    Jul 21st 2021, 1:18 AM

    @Michael Burke: they might make seven but Dublin will never be Heaven

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David O' Mahoney
    Favourite David O' Mahoney
    Report
    Jul 20th 2021, 9:34 PM

    This story is entered twice!! Any copy editor awake?

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel