Buckley links up with Kerry

KERRY boss Jack O’Connor has revealed that leading football coach Donie Buckley will link up with the Kingdom setup for the first time before the end of this month when he returns from a trip to Australia.

The former Clare and Limerick coach is not set to formally join the management team and will instead be involved on an infrequent basis during the 2011 campaign. O’Connor has welcomed the addition of one of the most highly-regarded coaches in the country.

“We think Donie is very good. He certainly has a very good reputation and we think he’ll add to the quality of the training.

“He’s away at the moment in sunnier climes in Australia. We’ll welcome him with open arms now in a couple of weeks.”

O’Connor will also plan without defender Killian Young for this weekend’s NFL Division 1 opener against Cork despite the return of the Renard player to training this week after a spell on the sidelines due to surgery on his hip/groin.

O’Connor is also unlikely to rush his Dr Crokes contingent back into action after their Munster Club SFC final defeat last Sunday.

“He’ll be back doing a bit of training next week but I couldn’t see us putting him into the action next Sunday. He needs to find his feet first.

“We’ll still be a little bit depleted going into the league game next Sunday but it’s a chance for some fellas who’ve done well in the McGrath Cup now to have a cut at it.

“We’ve nothing to lose there and that’s a good environment for us to be trying them out in.”