Kerry-Dublin clash sets the scene for r a stormy summer
O’Donoghue, Enright and Young sidelined
KERRY are almost certain to be without Shane Enright, Killian Young and James O’Donoghue for what is effectively a must win game against Cavan on Sunday.
Enright (hamstring) and Young (groin) came off injured during last Saturday’s drawn match with Dublin and are expected to miss the trip north to Breffni Park.
James O’Donoghue missed the game against Dublin with a calf problem picked up in training the previous weekend and is looking at another couple of weeks before a return to competitive action.
With Kerry due to meet Cavan this Sunday and Tyrone the following Sunday in Killarney, all three could have played their last League match this year unless Kerry can qualify for the League Final, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 9.
With the squad only due to return to training last night (Tuesday) selector Mikey Sheehy could only speculate on the extent of Enright and Young’s injuries and prognosis, but he said he assumed both would miss the game in Cavan.
“Shane had a slight concern with his hamstring coming into the Dublin game, and while I don’t think he did much damage to it I assume he’ll be out. Killian has an on-going groin problem that’s been at him for a few weeks and I’d be 99% certain he’ll miss the game.
“James hurt his calf last Sunday (week) at training and I’d say he’ll be another two or three weeks out of action,” Sheehy said, while also confirming that Brendan O’Sullivan remains sidelined with an ongoing injury.
On the matter of the Dr Crokes players returning, Sheehy said that Fionn Fitzgerald was likely to return to Kerry training last evening but there was a doubt over Johnny Buckley, who is thought to have been nursing a slight knee injury and may need a little more time before rejoining the Kerry squad.
Meanwhile, Kerry’s draw with Dublin last Saturday leaves the Kingdom on five points in the division, but a loss to Cavan, coupled with Mayo beating Tyrone, would leave Kerry in the relegation zone. They would have five points, the same as Cavan, but would drop into the bottom two because of the head-to-head result between the two.