Kennelly to take up Kingdom coaching role

KERRY GAA chiefs are to employ former AFL star Tadhg Kennelly as a coach.

Kennelly, who quit the Sydney Swans earlier this year to return to the Kingdom, will take charge of the North Kerry area. The Listowel man, who underwent an interview process, replaces John Joy.

Kerry chairman Jerome Conway confirmed: “It has not been formally announced but he is taking up a role as a coaching officer. It’s great news for us, because you are talking about man with huge experience. He also did coaching in Australia as part of his training so has the experience of working with juveniles.” Meanwhile, Kennelly looks set to travel to Derry with the Kerry squad this weekend and may make his senior debut.

He partnered Mike Quirke at midfield on Sunday when the senior side played an U-21 team in a challenge.

Kerry will be without David Moran and Tommy Walsh for the trip to Bellaghy as the duo will be part of the side putting their Munster and All-Ireland U-21 titles on the line against Cork on March 14.

Elsewhere, Cork could be without team captain Graham Canty, while Ballincollig’s budding young player Patrick Kelly is a definite non-starter, for their League clash with Fermanagh at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

Canty sustained a leg injury during the course of the drawn game with Kildare and in the event of him failing to make it the likelihood is that Ger Spillane will take over the centre half back position.

Kelly damaged ankle ligaments in training last week and could be out of action for up to six weeks.

Meanwhile, Mayo manager John O’Mahony received a timely boost last night when Trevor Howley returned to training for the first time since last summer.

The former All-Ireland U-21 winning defender had his ankle ligaments reconstructed last December and had been on crutches until Monday. However, he was given the all-clear to return to work and training by specialists earlier this week.

Tyrone manager Micky Harte has confirmed that he must plan for Saturday evening’s floodlit Healy Park showdown with Galway without not only the suspended Ryan McMenamin, but fellow defenders Joe McMahon and Philip Jordan too.

McMahon is ruled out with a short-term knee problem, while Jordan is away on holidays.

Galway manager Liam Sammon will again have to plan without most of his Corofin contingent.

Corofin bowed out of the All-Ireland club championship race at the semi-final stage to Kilmacud Crokes the weekend before last, but only two of their five county players will be available this weekend to Galway. Michael Comer is a long-term absentee with a cruciate knee injury.

Captain Kieran Fitzgerald was injured in the loss to Kilmacud and while his shoulder injury is not as serious as first thought, he will not play any part against Tyrone.

Neither will the versatile Gary Sice who is out with an infection, but the Burke cousins, Damien and Alan, will be available having resumed training with Galway this week.

Elsewhere, Tipperary football ace Barry Grogan has warned that his side will have to step up on their performance in the shock win over Cavan to get the better of Limerick this weekend.

“It certainly won’t be easy against Limerick,” he remarked. “We might have had the element of surprise against Cavan, but that certainly won’t be the case against Limerick, and they’ll be ready for us in a big way.’’

GAA chiefs have confirmed that Sunday’s NFL clash of Roscommon and Longford has been switched from Athleague to Dr Hyde Park (2.30pm) while the NHL re-fixture between Offaly and Carlow in Tullamore now throws in at the earlier time of 12.45pm.