No hard feelings over Kealy departure – Fitzmaurice

KERRY manager Eamonn Ftizmaurice insists that there were “no hard feelings” after goalkeeper Brendan Kealy stepped away from the panel.

Frustrated at a lack of game time, the former All-Star left the Kingdom squad recently after losing out in the race to the No 1 shirt to Brian Kelly for the championship. The pair had been alternating during the league.

“It was disappointing and I was disappointed for Brendan himself, in particular,” Fitzmaurice (right) said at his press briefing ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway in Croke Park.

“He was frustrated with a lack of game-time and you can understand that, especially with the position he’s in.

“Generally the way we’ve gone in the championship, once one of the lads has got a hold of it, that’s been it for the summer.

“Brian has been playing very well as well. It was disappointing for him and he was frustrated. Again, I understand it. There were no hard feelings. I wished him the best of luck and it was mutual and that was it.”

In Kealy’s absence, Fitzmaurice has drafted into two more goalkeepers in Shane Ryan (Rathmore) and Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes). “Both of them have been in our plans since the start of the season but as the season went on, Shane Ryan has been involved with the U-21s and Shane Murphy was involved in the Dr Crokes’ All-Ireland run,” he explained “As the season went on we were happy with what we had and it was going to be awkward having three or four keepers around the squad so we just kept it as it was. “But when Brendan departed then, it was an opportunity for the two lads to come in. And of course they were chomping at the bit and delighted to get the call and they are fighting it out now at the moment.”

The Kerry supremo is adamant that he has no fears about whether they newcomers could fill the void if necessary.

“It’s going to be going on form and if a player is doing well enough in training regardless of their experience, we won’t have a problem throwing them in.

“I think both of the lads have plenty of experience, Shane Ryan at underage level and Shane Murphy obviously being up in Croke Park last March. They are experienced as well, even though they are younger.

“They might be lacking senior inter-county experience but they have Croke Park experience. Of course they’re going to be pushing Brian, but we’ve been very happy with Brian. He’s playing well, he’s experienced and he’s been there and done that.”

With the exception of Bryan Sheehan who is struggling with a hamstring injury, Fitzmaurice reported that Kerry have a clean bill of health for the showdown with the Tribesmen.

“The big concern is Bryan Sheehan. He missed the Munster final with a hamstring injury, came back from it and unfortunately had a reoccurrence last week, so he would be a major doubt.

“Other than that, we’re pretty good.”