O’Donovan an injury doubt
DR Crokes are expected to wait until Thursday before making a decision on whether or not to name Ambrose O’donovan in the starting team to face Rathmore.
The midfielder has been struggling with a persistent back injury for some time and aggravated the problem again recently.
According to manager Harry O’neill, the management will wait until later in the week to assess O’donovan before deciding on their team.
O’neill admits that their decision could be coloured by Dr Crokes imminent All-ireland Club semi-final against Crossmaglen next month, and if O’donovan isn’t passed fully fit he might be held in reserve for that trip to Portlaoise on February 18.
“The problem is that if Ambrose plays (on Sunday) and breaks down then he doesn’t train for maybe a week or ten days. That eats into the preparation time for the Crossmaglen game so it’s something that has to be considered,” O’neill said.
Nevertheless, O’neill and Dr Crokes are competitive animals and they will be going all out to win a sixth successive O’donoghue Cup and inch closer to the record of seven consecutive title wins, set by Dr Crokes back in the infancy of the competition.
“The likes of Colm Cooper and Ambrose O’donovan probably have something like eight or nine East Kerry medals won but nothing will stop them from going all out to win another one,” O’neill says.
“This is a fascinating game in that it sets the county champions against the senior club champions, and there is nothing between the teams on a given day. We have beaten them narrowly in a few recent matches and Rathmore outplayed us totally in the recent club championship semi-final.
“There is always a lot at stake in a derby game. There is no point in winning the county championship if you can’t go out and win your local district championship so we will be going all out for the win.
“I’m certain Rathmore will too. They have some fantastic young players, they have the experience of Tom O’sullivan, John Buckley and Aidan O’mahony, if his appeal succeeded last night, and they are always a very competitive team,” O’neill added.
Aside from O’donovan, Johnny Buckley has recovered from an ankle injury after sitting out last weekend’s Mcgrath Cup with UCC.
David O’leary and Jonathan Payne return from holidays this week, although Payne, who was away on an extended break, may not have enough match fitness to reclaim his place in the defence.