Limerick stars face fitness fight

MICKEY Ned O’Sullivan is sweating over the fitness of a number of key forwards ahead of the Limerick footballers’ Munster Championship opener against Clare on May 21.

Sunday’s NFL Division Two semi-final defeat to Louth was compounded by the torn hamstring Eoin Keating suffered 20 minutes from time, and O’Sullivan will find out today or tomorrow how long he will be without the Monaleen corner-forward.

“He was just back after an operation on his shoulder and this was his first start,” said the Kerry native.

“He was complaining of a niggling stiffness (before the game), but we didn’t think it was bad. It’s unfortunate, but that’s football.”

And O’Sullivan said Stephen Kelly faces a battle to feature in the championship.

Kelly missed the entire league campaign because of a cruciate ligament injury.

“We will get Stephen Kelly back, but it depends how long we’re going to be in the championship. He could be training in the next two weeks, but that’s only doing something like changing direction (when he is running).”

However, Johnny Murphy may yet be back to face Clare. The Ballylanders player broke his jaw against the Banner in Division 2A on March 12 but is set to return to training this week.

It will be May 7 before he can engage in any physical contact and, having scored 10 points in four games before his setback, his return would be a significant boost to the county.

Muiris Gavin was another who missed a large chunk of the league, but he has scored 12 points from frees and open play since his return to the fold.