Kingdom boost as Donaghy returns to training
Donaghy has been sidelined from action since breaking a bone in his left foot during the All-Ireland Qualifiers second round clash with Longford on July 11.
In the interim, the talismanic full-forward missed the subsequent qualifiers against Sligo and Antrim, as well as the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. But Donaghy provided the Kingdom with a glimmer of hope that he might be able to play some part in the showdown with the Royals by resuming running last weekend.
“Kieran is not yet able to participate in the football element of training, and we don’t know when he will be able to do so,” explained team selector Ger O’Keeffe.
“But it’s encouraging that he’s now able to run, and hopefully he’ll be able to get back to the football part of the training before we play Meath.
“Kieran hadn’t been able to do running up to his recent return because of soreness in his foot. But thankfully that problem is no longer there.”
The former star corner-back added: “Of course, we’re delighted Kieran is making significant progress, and it’s a help that there’s still well over a week to the match.
“I wouldn’t rule Kieran in or out for the match. It all depends on what kind of progress he makes over the next 10 days. But obviously he will have to have taken part in match situations in training in order to be considered for selection.”
Earlier this summer, Donaghy broke a bone in the same foot during a training session, and missed the Munster semi-final draw with, and defeat by, Cork, on June 7 and 14.
“Kieran was very unlucky to break the second bone in his foot. He had completely recovered from the previous injury, and he had trained for three to four weeks before the Longford game,” said O’Keeffe. [
“But unfortunately in a complete accident Kieran’s foot got entangled with the foot of a Longford player, and that’s how the damage was done.”
With the exception of the towering Austin Stacks club man, the Kingdom don’t have injury worries for the clash with Eamonn O’Brien’s side.
“There are a few bumps and bruises that lads pick up in training, but nothing of any significance,” said O’Keeffe.
The Kerry selector declined to comment on whether he, or any other members of Jack O’Connor’s backroom team, would be attending the first All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Tyrone on Sunday.
“There is no point in worrying about an All-Ireland final when you still have to play a semi-final.
“We haven’t yet made our plans for this weekend, but it is possible we will have a training session on Sunday.”
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