Donaghy boost for Kingdom

KIERAN DONAGHY has stepped up his bid for a dramatic return to Kerry colours for the All-Ireland final by taking a full part in Kingdom training.

Donaghy’s rehabilitation will be stepped up next week after returning to full football duties on Thursday night.

The Austin Stacks man has progressed rapidly in the last week but Kerry management are not in favour of releasing him to play a competitive game for Stacks tomorrow in a county league game in Tralee.

Having been limited to rehab work in running shoes with trainer Alan O’Sullivan prior to the All-Ireland semi-final, he’s been training in boots again this week, and fitness-wise, will be ready for the September 20 showdown with Cork.

However, whether the Kerry selectors believe he has enough football in him to merit a start in two weeks is yet to be determined.

The Kerry management must decide whether to set up their attack with a target man in the full forward line, or retain Declan O’Sullivan on the edge of the square.

Meanwhile, another Kerry man, Daniel Nelligan, will be replaced as Munster Council deputy chief executive by Clare’s Enda McGuane, the provincial body has confirmed.

Mr McGuane hails from Cooraclare, Co Clare and is a member of a well known GAA family. A former inter-county footballer, Enda was a member of the Clare senior football panel from 1997 until 2001.

He served as an officer in the Irish Army for 14 years and held posts both in Ireland and overseas. Munster Council officials have paid glowing tributes to Daniel Nelligan, who has opted for a different career path.

Elsewhere, former Westmeath manager Tomas O’Flatharta is to challenge Joe Kernan for the position of Galway football manager.

O’Flatharta has told Galway officials he is willing to go forward for the job after being among the nominees when the deadline passed yesterday afternoon.

Kernan remains the favourite for the job — five clubs in Galway nominated him — but O’Flatharta has informed the Tribesmen he is willing to go forward.

Ironically, one of the Kerryman’s greatest days in charge of Westmeath came when they shocked Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers at Pearse Stadium two years ago.

O’Flatharta, who took over in Westmeath from fellow Kerryman Páidí Ó Sé, was among five men nominated for the position.

But the others — Sligo boss Kevin Walsh, former Clare manager Frank Doherty and Pete Warren, a selector with John O’Mahony when they won the 1998 and 2001 All-Ireland titles — informed Galway officials yesterday that they would not be going forward.

Galway Football Board secretary Seamus O’Grady confirmed Kernan and O’Flatharta had declared their intention to go forward for the position.