Gaelic Games Team newsTeam captain Barry O'Shea has again been forced off the Kerry football panel with injury, and is now almost certain to miss their championship opener against either Waterford or Tipperary on June 15th.
Manager Páidí Ó Sé yesterday announced a 26-strong panel which is preparing for the championship, and, while there is no closed-door policy, several notable names are absent, including O'Shea, midfielder Donal Daly, defender Marc Ó Sé, forward Noel Kennelly and - not surprisingly - Maurice Fitzgerald.
For O'Shea, the most unfortunate run of injuries continued this week when he again broke down during training. The Kerins O'Rahillys player had gradually regained his finest form at full back over the past year following a broken leg, helping his club to the county title last October, but then suffered a knee injury during club action last February. Efforts to shake off that injury have been proving fruitless.
Daly's problem is a minor Achilles tendon tear that will keep him out of hard training for several weeks. Ó Sé, who scored a memorable goal during Kerry's last league game against Armagh, has been laid low with a slight dose of glandular fever.
Kennelly faces an operation for a groin injury similar to the one that sidelined Michael Donnellan for over six months. That, coupled with his pending college exams at Maynooth, will also keep him out of training for several weeks.
"There is no point in having guys in with us now who are not able to train," commented the Kerry manager. "And while this is the panel we are going with, it is not a closed panel."
It seems certain, though not yet confirmed, that Declan Quill, also of Kerins O'Rahillys, will act as captain in the absence of O'Shea.
Fitzgerald's absence merely adds further confirmation that his intercounty career is indeed over. Earlier this year, he gave the clearest indication yet that he had no interest in returning to the Kerry panel, and, although the management have repeatedly extended the invitation, they now accept that they will have to plan without him.
There are, however, several new faces among the panel, including James Cahalane, Paul Kennedy and Aidan O'Mahony. Mike Frank Russell is also back training after recent injury, although there is no room for 19-year-old Donnacha Walsh, last year's outstanding minor, who was introduced mid-league for the game against Dublin.
Elsewhere, Galway manager John Mahony has confirmed that midfielder Kevin Walsh will be team captain for the coming championship campaign.
The 33-year-old Killanin player was nominated by county champions Corofin after their three representatives (Kieran Fitzgerald, Michael Comer and Kieran Comer) each turned down the responsibility.
"There certainly hasn't been a better servant to Galway football than Kevin Walsh," said O'Mahony. "So I'm delighted with his appointment."
O'Mahony has also finalised a championship panel of 30 players, although like previous years it remains open-ended. Last year's centre back Tomás Mannion is the most notable absentee, while several members of last year's All-Ireland winning under-21 side are permanent members.
Included on the list is standout forward Michael Meehan, as well as fellow forwards Derry O'Brien, John Devane and Nicholas Joyce.
O'Mahony is also well satisfied with the return to fitness of Michael Donnellan and he seems certain to play some role in their championship opener against Roscommon on May 18th.
Another captaincy confirmed for the championship is Coman Goggins of Dublin, who regains the responsibilities for a second year. Manager Tommy Lyons is working off a regular panel of 30 players, with former captain Dessie Farrell firmly back in the frame.
In team news, Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey has handed the full back position to Damien Gavin for Sunday's National Football League Division Two final against Limerick at Croke Park.
Regular full back David Mitchell broke his leg during the semi-final win over Longford and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Gavin's new positioning means that Brian Morley will start at right half back while Martin Flanagan returns to midfield in place of David O'Shaughnessy.
Limerick have delayed naming their team until after a training session this evening.
In hurling, both Tipperary and Kilkenny will this evening finalise their teams for next Monday's National League final in Croke Park.First however, Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin and Philly Larkin and Tipperary's Ger O'Grady are expected to get word of possible suspensions arising from incidents in last month's league match between the two sides. Tipperary's Eamonn Corcoran will also learn his fate following a straight red card in the last league game against Galway.
Kieran Quinn has withdrawn from the Sligo football panel to concentrate on exams and may take no part in the Connacht championship. Quinn is the second forward Sligo have lost following the emigration of Dara McGarty last year.
WESTMEATH (SF v Limerick): A Lennon; D Heavin, D Gavin, K Henson; B Morley, D Healy, D Kilmartin; R O'Connell, M Flanagan; F Wilson, S Colleary, J Conroy; JP Casey, G Dolan, D Dolan.
