KERRY’s relief at the preservation of their top-flight status in the National Football League was ironically overshadowed by the jubilation of the Monaghan players and a decent travelling support when it emerged that a superior scoring rate to Derry also ensured their survival.

THE KERRY management’s desire to employ Marc Ó Sé’s footballing talents in the half-back line gets another trial tomorrow in Tralee, with the youngest of the Gaeltacht brothers selected at right half-back for the clash with Mayo.

GALWAY may have their work cut out with Colm Cooper at Pearse Stadium tomorrow, but Joe Kernan’s side will have another dangerous Dr Crokes corner-forward to contend with too.

IN order of priority, Kieran Donaghy’s excellence at full-forward, outstanding free-taking from the returning Colm Cooper and a marvellous save from goalkeeper Brendan Kealy just before half-time were the primary factors in Kerry avoiding a three-game losing sequence in Tralee yesterday.

AS Kerry last night named their side for tomorrow’s vital Allianz NFL Division 1 clash with Derry at Fitzgerald Stadium (2.30pm), the Kerry County Board confirmed the news that former Kingdom great John Egan is being treated at Cork University Hospital following a recent accident at his home in Cork.

JUST when it appeared yesterday’s Kerry senior football decider in Fitzgerald Stadium was heading for a replay, county star Declan O’Sullivan fisted over the winning point to leave South Kerry champions for the ninth time.

TADHG KENNELLY has been named at centre-forward ahead of Tommy Walsh on the Kerry team for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final showdown against Meath at Croke Park.

FOR the first time since he began his illustrious career 14 years ago, Darragh O Sé has been excluded from the Kerry team to meet Cork in Sunday’s glamour Munster SFC semi-final clash with Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

SHARING the points in Parnell Park yesterday was of no significance to a Kerry team already assured of its place in the Allianz National Football League final.

LIMERICK manager Justin McCarthy introduces James Ryan and Paul Browne for his side’s NHL clash against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow.

NO-ONE’S been as surprised by Tyrone and Kerry’s effervescent start to the National League as Mickey Harte and Jack O’Connor, but neither’s complaining.

Mid Kerry 1-14 Dr Crokes 0-8

Kerry 1-14, Clare 0-5

TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Killian Young from the Renard club makes his National Football League debut for Kerry when they take on Mayo in the opening round at Castlebar on Sunday.

Dr Crokes 2-12, St. Brendan’s 0-5

CORK GAA officials are seeking thea re-arrangement of their teams’ schedules in the All-Ireland SFC and SHC championship in Croke Park.

DARREN O’SULLIVAN, the 20-year-old whiz kid from Glenbeigh, will make his provincial senior championship debut when Kerry take on Tipperary in the Bank of Ireland Munster SFC semi-final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday.

THE expected annihilation never materialised as Kerry struggled alarmingly to cope with Waterford’s vibrant challenge in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Munster SFC at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, yesterday.

KERRY coach Jack O’Connor and his fellow selectors have given a vote of confidence to the team which defeated Laois in the semi-final for Sunday’s Allianz Division One NFL final against Galway in Limerick (5.30pm).

BRIAN SHEEHAN and Colm Cooper will start for Kerry against Laois in the Allianz NFL semi-final at Killarney on Sunday.

Kerry 2-15 UCC 0-7

PREDICTABLY, Cork players figured prominently among the winners at last night’s Munster Council awards.

South Kerry 0-12 Dr Crokes 1-6

Dr Crokes 2-7 Laune Rangers 1-4

IRISH manager Peter McGrath has made it clear to his players what he expects from them if they are to beat Australia tonight (throw-in 11.45am Irish time).

Dr Crokes 1-10 Laune Rangers 1-10

Dr Crokes 2-11 An Ghaeltacht 1-9

Brendan Larkin and Michael Ellard

Tipperary 0-13 Kerry 2-22

Kerry 2-13 Dublin 2-11

THERE will be no sin bins or experimental rules in the exhibition game between the 2003 and 2004 Vodafone GAA Allstar football squads in Hong Kong next Saturday.

JACK O’CONNOR’S remarkable achievement in leading Kerry to National League, Munster and All-Ireland football championship titles in his first year in charge last night earned him the ‘Manager of the Year’ by the Munster Council.

South Kerry 2-20 Rathmore 1-6

MIKE FRANK RUSSELL has paid the price for indifferent form of late by dropping to the Kerry substitute’s bench for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Derry.

Kerry 1-15 Dublin 1-8

SÉAMUS MOYNIHAN won’t even be on the bench when Kerry take on arch-rivals Dublin in the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park on Saturday.

THE inaugural Munster GAA Allstar teams are dominated by provincial champions Kerry and Waterford, who between them provide almost half of the winners.