Irish Daily Mirror

Cliff edge for Kerry boss Pete

- BY MURT MURPHY

NEW Kerry boss Peter Keane must be wondering if he has upset the football Gods in some way.

A day on from news of rising star Stefan Okunbor’s decision to sign for Geelong in Australia, it was revealed that golden boy David Clifford will miss at least half of the 2019 Allianz League.

The 19-year-old Fossa All-star nominee has been contemplat­ing getting a troublesom­e shoulder injury operated on since last year but decided against surgery last winter.

However, Clifford is expected to have surgery done once he finishes with East Kerry in the SFC which could either be this Sunday, when they face Dingle in a replay or after a possible county final meeting with Dr Crokes the Sunday after.

Recuperati­on will take up to four months, meaning Kerry boss Keane will not have the services of his ace forward for the first half the NFL at the very least.

It also rules him out of Sigerson Cup and IT Tralee manager Liam Brosnan has confirmed that he will have to plan without Clifford.

Kerry’s opening League game is at home against Tyrone on Sunday January 27, followed by a trip north to play Cavan the following week.

The glamour tie at Austin Stack Park against All-ireland champions

Dublin is on February 9, which Clifford also seems certain to miss.

Clifford’s absence is a further blow to the newly appointed management team, which has already lost four senior players, Kieran Donaghy, Donnchadh Walsh, Anthony Maher and Darran O’sullivan to retirement since the season ended for Kerry back in August.

 ??  ?? TROUBLES Keane has just taken the Kingdom reins
TROUBLES Keane has just taken the Kingdom reins

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland