Kennelly set to play for Kerry

TADHG KENNELLY’S quest to re-root himself in Kerry football is practically complete. Kennelly is set to make his first senior appearance in a Kerry jersey on Sunday after returning from Australia early last month following a highly successful 10 years with Australian football club the Sydney Swans.

Although manager Jack O’Connor has yet to finalise his panel for the trip to Derry – and the rematch of last year’s league final, which Derry won – the expectation is Kennelly will perform some role having played at midfield in last weekend’s challenge against the Kerry under-21s.

But what is just as certain is Kennelly is to take over as the new coaching officer with the Kerry County Board, a position he is undoubtedly suited to. Although that appointment has to be ratified at the March meeting of the Kerry board, county chairman Jerome Conway explained that Kennelly had gone through the formal interview process and was unquestionably their man.

“It has not been formally announced yet,” he said, “but he is taking up a role as a coaching officer. It’s great news for us, because you are talking about a man with huge experience. He also did coaching in Australia as part of his training, so also has the experience of working with juveniles.”

Kennelly returned to his native Listowel without any guarantees of returning to Kerry football in any capacity, but he looks certain to play a key role in the future of the county. He joins an already extensive coaching infrastructure in the county, and will replace John Joy, who was previously the North Kerry coaching officer.

The chances of him playing against Derry in Bellaghy on Sunday improved after his showing in last weekend’s challenge, where he partnered Micheál Quirke at midfield, but also by the fact that Darragh Ó Sé has only this week returned to training and is still some way off match fitness, while David Moran and Tommy Walsh are unavailable because of upcoming under-21 commitments.

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy will today name his team to play Donegal in Ballyshannon, but the chances of Paul Brogan returning to the panel any time soon suffered a massive setback as he has sustained a suspected second cruciate knee ligament injury.

Having worked his way on to the panel last year, Brogan – the younger brother of Alan and Bernard – first sustained the injury almost exactly a year ago, and then missed DIT’s Sigerson Cup action last weekend with a recurrence of the knee problem that is almost certain to see him miss championship action this season as well.

Donegal have their own injury concerns, with Frank McGlynn likely to miss the rest of the league with a shoulder injury, following the similar fate of Neil Gallagher. However, Christy Toye and Kevin Cassidy should be available for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, the GAA have announced that Sunday’s National Football League Division One game between Mayo and Westmeath in Charlestown is an all-ticket affair. Tickets are available from both county boards, the Connacht Council or the GAA ticket office on 01-8658657 – and will also be on sale at the venue on the day of the match.

The GAA’s Legends Tour Series also continues this Saturday with a behind-the-scenes tour with former Kerry footballer Dara Ó Cinnéide, starting at 2.30. The special tour of Croke Park offers the chance for fans to meet the An Ghaeltacht footballer and relive the highs and lows of his career. Details of the Legends Tours and Museum activities are available on the website www.gaa.ie/museum.