It’s now one year and 15 days since that cold February afternoon when the entire career of Colm “Gooch” Cooper flashed before his eyes – and everyone else close to Kerry football. For the days and months that followed, no one was entirely sure if his career would be extended any further.

Yet for several months now the 31-year-old Cooper has been back training – although not yet at the pace required for his return to intercounty football. “We did say mid-March initially, but it will be later than that now,” said manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice, speaking ahead of Kerry’s next meeting with old rivals Cork on Sunday.

“He’s just not ready yet. So I’m reluctant to put another date on it. When he’s ready he’s ready, and we’ll give him as much action as we can. Will it be before the end of March? I’m not sure. He wants to get going. He’s done a lot of individual work, and with some small groups, and that can be testing, because he wants to be back in the main group.”

Cooper’s long lay-off wasn’t helped by the fact not only had their 2014 captain ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee he’d also torn the posterior cruciate ligament and fractured the kneecap itself.