Kerry to ring changes as McCarthy set for return to action
The return of the 31-year-old Kilcummin man to Kingdom colours for the first time since 2006 could be confirmed tomorrow, but not in the full back position where he won his last All-Ireland with the county in ‘06.
Kerry coach Jack O’Connor has been employing McCarthy as a No 6 since his return to training and his selection there for the Longford game could trigger a shake-up in the defence, with a number of high-profile casualties on the cards.
Aidan O’Mahony, Pádraig Reidy and even keeper Diarmuid Murphy are all under pressure to retain their starting positions from the Munster SFC semi final replay defeat to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Seamus Scanlon is likely to win back his place in midfield, with Darragh O Sé or Mike Quirke set to partner him. Veteran O Sé performed well in a behind closed doors game in Killarney at the weekend, as did Duagh defender Kieran Quirke, who blotted out Colm Cooper.
Quirke’s club-mate Anthony Maher is another midfield option for O’Connor and his selectors; Maher would have been in the frame for a championship start against Cork but for an ankle injury.
“I would say there will have to be a number of changes,” O’Connor said yesterday.
“A lot of fellows played good football during the league and this might be the ideal time to give them a taste of the real thing.
“Sometimes a run of games can be a good for a team because in the league we played good football when we had games week after week. Players prefer games over training.”
He added: “We did not meet for 10 days after the loss to Cork. Sometimes a break is good and the lads returned determined to have another crack at it and seeing the intensity and the way training has gone, it augurs well and we will see on Saturday what shape we are in.”
Tadhg Kennelly (hand injury) and Paul Galvin (suspension) are not in Kerry’s plans for this weekend.
