Kerry play the waiting game

Kealy quits panel as Sheehan rehabs rib injury

THE Kerry management team will divide themselves in two this Saturday and head to Limerick and Sligo to scout out their potential All-Ireland quarter-final opponent as the squad continues to prepare in a vacuum ahead of that July 30 appointment.

Selectors Mikey Sheehy and Liam Hassett are expected to make the long journey to Markievicz Park to watch Galway take on Donegal, while Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Maurice Fitzgerald are set to pitch up in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds for the meeting of Cork and Mayo.

Kerry will meet one of Mayo, Galway or Donegal in Croke Park on July 30 for a place in the semi-final, but it’s possible the Munster champions won’t know their opponent until six days before they are due to meet.

“It’s a bit of a disadvantage not knowing who we will play,” Sheehy told The Kerryman this week, “but we are working away and we’re very happy with our preparation.

“It’s going to be ten o’clock Saturday night at best before we know who we’re playing, and if Mayo and Donegal both win it’ll be Monday morning before we will know [an open draw will take place in that scenario].

Kerry have no injury concerns to report other than a rib cartilage injury for Bryan Sheehan, who trained last week in a non-contact capacity. Jack Savage, who wasn’t available for the Munster Final because of appendicitis, has resumed full training.

Meanwhile, Sheehy expressed his surprise and disappointment at Brendan Kealy’s decision last week to leave the panel.

Kealy had been competing with Brian Kelly for the goalkeeper’s position on the team, but it seems the call-up of Shane Murphy and Shane Ryan to the squad pushed Kealy down the pecking order, and the Kilcummin club man decided end his time with the squad.

“It was a decision Brendan made himself, and while we respect it fully I was a bit surprised at the timing. He’s a good lad and a very good goalkeeper, and himself and Brian (Kelly) had shared the goalkeeping spot through the League. Brian got the jersey for the Munster Championship, and that’s the way it goes, but Brendan didn’t rule out a return in the future and we certainly wouldn’t have the door closed behind him.

“Shane Ryan and Shane Murphy have come in to freshen things up. They’re two top-class boys and we’ll just take it from there now. Brian has the no.1 jersey and he has preformed well, but like every players and position, there is fierce competition for every jersey. It’s up to Brian to hold on to it, and that will be determined by their form in training.

Kealy, 31, made his Championship debut in 2010 and alternated in goals with Brian Kelly since then, through the National League and Championship.

Kealy lost out to Kelly for the 2014 All-Ireland Final win over Donegal but won an All Star the following year as Kerry went to the All-Ireland Final again.

He won a National League title, five Musnter SFC medals, and played Kerry minor and Under-21.