Boyle back for hurlers trip to Newbridge

KERRY hurling boss Fintan O’Connor has been handed a major boost ahead of this weekend’s make or break National Hurling League contest with Kildare with the news that Mikey Boyle will be available for selection.

The Ballyduff man missed the opening two rounds of the league following a knee operation.

“We’d we hoping Mikey would have a role to play this weekend,” O’Connor told The Kerryman on Tuesday afternoon.

“He played a full hour now last weekend in a challenge match, we’d be hoping Mikey would be there for us to be honest. We’d be delighted with Mikey back. He just has that bit of physicality that we were probably lacking against Carlow the last day.”

Kerry do, however, have a number of other injury worries going into the game. Patrick Kelly is considered doubtful for the game having sustained a hamstring tear in the lead up to the Carlow game.

“Tom Murnane pulled a muscle in his stomach so he’s probably only fifty / fifty,” O’Connor continued.

“Daniel Collins is sick so I don’t know how he’ll be, he definitely won’t be training this week. Jordan Conway has a tear in his calf, it’s more of a strain so again he’ll be touch and go for the weekend and Brandon Barrett has that issue with his hand so we’re not sure. Dáithí Griffin has a broken toe so he’s more than likely out for the weekend.”