Champions kick off without captain
The Kingdom face Tipperary in the quarter-final of the McGrath Cup (Clonmel, 1.30pm) with their new captain sidelined with a knee injury which may require surgery.
"I'm still in the dark about it really but Michael Lynch (Kerry Physio) had made an appointment for me with Dr Deacy and I will know more after that," O'Sullivan said yesterday. "I will have to give it a few weeks rest and then see what I have to do. It is still giving me a bit of trouble and I will not be rushing back that quickly."
O'Sullivan is not the Kingdom's only absentee as John Sheehan recovers from a groin injury while Tommy Griffin continues to be troubled by an ankle problem. Colm Cooper has an All-Ireland Inter Firm Final with AIB Kerry in Mayo this afternoon and might start on the bench while dual stars Micheal Quirke and Kieran Donaghy have basketball commitments with Tralee Tigers. Players like Padraig Reidy, Darren O'Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Paddy Kelly, Noel Kennelly, Kieran Cremin and Declan Quill are likely to start while Seamus Moynihan may also return.
They face a Tipperary side revitalised by Seamus McCarthy after the troubles of last season. The Premier County are returning to competitive action tomorrow for the first time in exactly eight months since their Munster championship exit to Limerick on May 16.
The following month manager Andy Shorthall resigned in protest at the decision to arrange a club hurling tie involving some of his players just days before their back door tie with Fermanagh.
Tipp Allstar Declan Browne is relishing the tie and again paid tribute to the former boss: "Andy and the management team took a stand for fair play on behalf of the footballers and it was a brave thing to do. They were made look guilty but they helped get things back on the right footing for the footballers and the lads won't forget that."
Elsewhere in Munster, Waterford take on IT Tralee in the other McGrath Cup quarter-final tie in Kill (1.30pm).
Meanwhile, Val Andrews wants to put the lessons of last year into action as his Louth side bid for a place in the O'Byrne Cup final in Drogheda (2pm) tomorrow.
Louth only won two competitive games last year, against Waterford in the league and Antrim in the championship, but have already achieved two wins in the O'Byrne Cup this term.
Tomorrow, they face Leinster champions Westmeath in the semi-final of the warm up competition and Dubliner Andrews believes his side are already showing how much they've learnt from last year.
Andrews said: "I learned more about the lads last year than I ever will and the same goes for them about themselves. It's hard to keep going when you've had so many defeats in a row but they kept coming back and they're showing now their character."
In the other O'Byrne Cup semi-final Kerry legend and current Laois boss Mick O'Dwyer will face up to his former Kildare side in Portlaoise (2pm).
Limerick might have said 'no' to opening Croke Park to soccer and rugby, but they have absolutely no problem in watching the top soccer stars in action.
The county's hurling squad fly out to Barcelona this morning as part of their preparation for the new season. They will get in some practice on the beach tomorrow, and afterwards will be treated to the Spanish League game between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp.
They have also accepted an invitation from Barcelona Gaels to play them on Monday. Manager Padjoe Whelahan is hoping that his squad will return refreshed to meet the demands of the new season.
In a further effort to have them fully prepared for their opening league game against All-Ireland champions Cork, on February 20, he has arranged a challenge against Galway on Sunday week, followed by a trip to Munster champions Waterford in a tournament final.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
