Star Limerick forward Kelly axed by O’Sullivan
Kelly failed to show for the McGrath Cup victory against Tipperary on January 14 and O’Sullivan told reporters afterwards that Kelly hadn’t been training with the panel in the week leading up to the fixture.
O’Sullivan also questioned Kelly’s commitment and insisted if the speedy wing forward didn’t show for training, he wouldn’t be considered for matches.
Kelly met with team management and a player delegation last week and it has been agreed that he cannot give the required time and commitment to the Limerick cause and will no longer be considered for selection.
Kelly was not part of the squad for the semi-final victory against UCC last Sunday, played on his home field in Newcastle West.
Kelly has forged a promising rugby career with All-Ireland League outfit Shannon and is also a member of the Newcastle West soccer team who have reached the FAI Junior Cup last 16.
On the day of the Tipperary game, Kelly played for Newcastle West in the adjoining soccer field in Cahir, while Limerick battled to an extra-time win.
O’Sullivan will assess the fitness of Jason Stokes and Seán Cronin before he considers a starting line-up for Sunday’s McGrath Cup final.
Meanwhile John Morrison is back in management following the abrupt termination of his Mayo partnership with Mickey Moran.
But the colourful Armagh man has departed the inter-county scene in favour of a club post. Morrison will ply his trade in Tyrone this season, where he has taken over the reins of senior club Clonoe O’Rahillys.
He has been handed the task of reviving the fortunes of one of the Red Hand county’s most famous outfits, which has seen a decline in fortunes in recent seasons. Clonoe are not in the top division, but their Division 1B status means they will still compete in the senior championship in 2007, so Morrison has clearly quite a challenge ahead of him.
He will have an extremely talented squad to work with, including Tyrone senior prospect Colm Donnelly and a number of players with inter-county experience at underage level.
Having taken a break from football following his departure from the westerners, who reached the All-Ireland final under the guidance of Moran and Morrison, the latter decided the time is right to get back into management.
And following approaches from a number of clubs, he decided to opt for Clonoe.
Morrison is renowned for his revolutionary approach to coaching and training, and the Clonoe squad is set to experience at first hand his innovative methods when training begins shortly.
Meanwhile, Aaron Kernan is set to return to action for the first time since November when he takes to the field in Dubai this weekend for the Allstars’ exhibition match.
The Armagh wing-back has been sidelined since fracturing an arm in three places while playing for Crossmaglen in the Ulster Club quarter-final three months ago.
That caused him to miss the two subsequent provincial matches but he now expects to be fully fit in time for the Armagh champions’ AIB All-Ireland semi-final against St Brigid’s of Roscommon next month.
“I haven’t actually come back yet. I’d say my first game will be the Allstar game on Saturday,” said Kernan yesterday. “I’ve just been building up the fitness until now so hopefully I’ll be right for this week.
“Initially it was meant to be five weeks but it dragged on to 13. It was the wrong diagnosis at the start and I didn’t think it would be as bad as it ended up being. I’ve been on schedule since I got the second opinion.”
Former Roscommon senior football captain David Casey has recovered from a serious knee injury that threatened his career, and hopes to return to the county colours next month.
Defender Casey, one of the county’s most consistent players in recent seasons, was laid low for the winter and there were fears he would never be able to play football again.
But manager John Maughan has confirmed Casey is back in training and could play a part in the second round of the NFL against London.
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