Lyons out as Kerry consider full-back position

KERRY may opt for Eamonn Fitzmaurice in the troublesome full-back berth for their home Munster SFC semi-final against Tipperary on June 15 — a game for which top forward Colm Cooper could be a doubtful starter due to a groin problem.

Fitzmaurice played at full-back in recent challenge games with Mayo and Clare and impressed the management. It released Seamus Moynihan to the half-back line where, it would be generally agreed, he has much more to offer the team.

Yesterday, manager Páidí Ó Sé indicated that the selectors will finalise a decision over the next few weeks on where to play their former captain.

However, utility defender Mossy Lyons will not be available for the rest of the year. Lyons has a lingering shoulder problem and the Kerry manager confirmed that he has opted out of the panel and decided to have an operation.

“Mossy will be a loss to the panel. He is a very experienced player,” Ó Sé said.

Meanwhile, Marc Ó Sé has got medical clearance to start training with his club but he will not be considered for the Tipperary game.

His club-mates Aodhán MacGearailt and Dara Ó Cinnéide were due to resume championship preparations with the Kerry squad last night.

Colm Cooper missed Dr Crokes’ championship defeat to Laune Rangers at the weekend with a groin injury that has kept him out of training for most of the past three weeks.

However, he hasn’t been ruled out of the Munster semi-final and Ó Sé expects him to be back training “soon”.

Eoin Brosnan was injured playing with Crokes but is unlikely to be out of action for long. Páidí Ó Sé is philosophical about their current situation, not blaming club involvement for the spate of injuries.

“You can be lucky and you can be unlucky,” he says. “We just got a run of injuries all at once.”

On Sunday, he was present, along with co-selector Eddie O’Sullivan, to see Tipperary defeat Waterford by three points in their opening championship game.

“They kicked 18 points, which is great kicking. I know we have home venue against them and all that, but it’s the championship and Tipperary are going to be better the next day because of their opening game,” he said.

“You can play as many challenge games as you wish, but they were playing for the real stuff and certainly that game is going to bring them on a ton.”

*The June 15 clash with Tipperary will be played at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.