Cooper is still a huge worry for Kerry

COLM COOPER’S fitness remains a concern for the Kerry management in advance of Sunday’s Bank of Ireland SFC semi-final against Derry in Croke Park.

However, the indications are that he will be named in the team in the hope - if not the belief - that he will be fit to line out.

Seamus Moynihan, meanwhile, is ruled out of contention.

Cooper suffered a hamstring pull at the very end of the All-Ireland quarter-final with Dublin.

The Dr Crokes man was subsequently withdrawn from the U-21 team for their Munster final defeat to Cork in Tralee last Tuesday night.

Kerry will train tonight and again on Thursday with Cooper receiving regular physiotherapy treatment in the meantime.

Derry are expected to pick from a full-strength panel. Key forward Paddy Bradley has continued to receive treatment for a long term heel injury but his selection is not in doubt.

Meanwhile, the GAA has reduced the price of tickets by €5 for Saturday’s semi-final replay between Mayo and Fermanagh, at Croke Park on Saturday (4pm).It will be refereed by John Bannon, who was widely praised for his handling of the Fermanagh/Armagh quarter-final.

This is in line with Association policy to change referees after draws.

Admission to the game will be €35 and a total of 13,000 concessionary tickets will be issued.

Tickets for Sunday will be available from county boards during the week, through the GAA website and Ticketmaster.

Details of general sale arrangements from Croke Park will be announced later this week.

Meanwhile, Kerry were given a pre-All Ireland semi-final boost with the presentation of a Toyota Corolla car in recognition of winning the Allianz National Football League. The presentations are made directly to the players by Toyota to assist with fund-raising initiatives for team members as part of the three-year sponsorship. This is the second year that cars will be presented to League and All Ireland champions.

Both Kilkenny and Tyrone received two Corollas each for their double winning exploits last year with Cork and Armagh also receiving Toyota Yaris’s for being runnersup in the in the All-Ireland finals. The cars presented last year have raised over €182,000 for the players of Kilkenny, Tyrone, Cork and Armagh.