Mooney fit for Kildare, Fitzgerald and Keane out injured

AFTER being one of four players that were taken off injured in Carlow on Saturday afternoon, Shane Mooney is expected to be fit to play against Kildare in Wicklow’s next O’Byrne Cup tie this weekend, while Darragh Fitzgerald, Alan Daly, and Daniel Keane are all set to miss out, Davy Burke has confirmed.

Mooney was forced off after suffering a knock late in the second-half of Saturday’s clash that also saw Fitzgerald (shoulder), Daly (groin), and Keane (head) brought off for injuries.

Speaking to the Wicklow People, Burke said that Mooney would be available for the Kildare-local’s first-ever home game in charge, against his native county. He also confirmed that the full extent of Fitzgerald’s injuries were not yet known, but that he was hopeful to see him back for the visit of Longford on the 4th of January.

As for Daniel Keane, Burke said that he was withdrawn on the day due to having sustained a head injury, and that he was now subject to the Gradual Return To Play (GRTP) Protocol, which stipulates that any player suspected of sustaining a head injury must avoid full-contact training/matches for at least seven days.

Meanwhile, Burke said that the injury to Alan Daly is not expected to be long-term, but that he won’t be risked on Saturday.

The Wicklow hurlers face Meath in Arklow on Sunday in their second Kehoe Cup encounter following their heavy defeat to Antrim in Abbotstown.

The return of the Bray contingent for selection in the starting 15 should strenghten Eamonn Scallan’s side considerably.

And in other GAA action, the Wicklow Schools team that defeated Dundalk Schools last time out have had their Top Oil Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ football championship clash with Louth Schools brought forward from January to this Saturday, December 14, in Abbotstown.