Kingdom calling as Buckley takes on coaching role for coming season

LEADING GAA coach Donie Buckley will link up his native Kerry’s League and Championship bid in 2011 — but he will not be formally joining Jack O’Connor’s management team.

Castleisland Desmonds man Buckley has succumbed to the lure of the Kingdom after persistent efforts from O’Connor to get him on board. But the former Clare and Limerick coach will not be joining O’Connor, Ger O’Keeffe, Diarmuid Murphy and fitness coach Joe O’Connor until February’s League kick-off.

Explained one Kerry insider: “He will be involved in a coaching role on an occasional basis, coming in at specific stages of the season in the way Pat Flanagan did for a couple of years. However he is a completely different type of coach to Pat.”