Donaghy a big loss to Kerry

MUNSTER SFC:WHEN A player like Kieran Donaghy is told he'll miss most of the championship there will always be sympathy, even in Cork. The Kerry forward underwent a foot operation yesterday for a stress fracture sustained in last month's league win over Derry, and will only be back in contention for the All-Ireland quarter-finals in August – should Kerry make it that far.

Cork captain Graham Canty could have relished the news, but he knows all about bad injuries, having sustained the dreaded cruciate ligament injury three years ago in the Munster final, and while Donaghy will be a big loss to Kerry for the Munster semi-final on June 7th (provided Cork beat Waterford) it’s not like they won’t survive without him.

“Kieran’s injury is a huge hit to Kerry, but sure they have huge talent,” says Canty. “You saw their bench for the National League final and I don’t know how many All-Ireland medallists they had sitting there that they could bring on. It’s a huge blow for Kieran as well, but I’m sure he’ll recover and come back later in the summer.

“But he is an outstanding footballer, he has huge physicality and he can win his own ball. Probably his best asset is his option taking – he always takes the right option, be that taking the shot himself or laying it off to someone like the Gooch. He’s a great footballer and he gives Kerry great focus.

“Jack O’Connor still has loads of options. He has Barry John Walsh involved in the squad and he’s another option.”

Canty’s focus is on Cork’s Munster championship opener against Waterford on May 24th: “It’s not difficult to get motivated for at all. We’re playing away from home and we’re going to Dungarvan in the first round of the championship at the start of the summer.

“It’s very easy to motivate yourself for that. You want to go out and perform and for the supporters that follow us down there you want to put on a good performance. You don’t want to be leaving Waterford after being beaten.”