Kerry confident O’Sullivan will win fitness race
Jack O’Connor revealed yesterday there was no immediate news as to the extent of the problem but the senior manager did confirm the player was undergoing cryotherapy in an attempt to speed up the healing process.
A scan this week will confirm the injury but O’Sullivan is hopeful the decision to replace him in the first-half of the All-Ireland quarter-final against Limerick on Sunday before he sustained any further damage will prove wise. The player himself was positive immediately after the game when asked about the seriousness of the situation and reports in the county yesterday claimed there was a tweak but no tear although his availability for the semi-final was still less than certain.
Glenbeigh-Glencar man O’Sullivan has already claimed a personal tally of 2-14 in Kerry’s four games in the championship and 1-3 of that came in just half an hour against Limerick two days ago before he picked up his injury.
O’Connor fielded his 2009 captain at wing-back in the season’s McGrath Cup opener against IT Tralee but he reverted to a more suitable centre-forward slot for much of the league in Declan O’Sullivan’s absence and is now having his say, nominally, from the corner.
His goal against Limerick was emblematic of a player playing at the peak of his powers and height of confidence and the cheeky back flick finish continued to clock up ‘hits’ throughout the day on Youtube.
Over 4,000 people had watched the snippet by early evening yesterday although it still has some way to go to surpass the 60,000 or so views for Owen Mulligan’s solo goal against Dublin in the2005 All-Ireland quarter-final.
Sunday’s defeat of Limerick seemed to pave the way for yet another Cork-Kerry championship meeting but expectations were undone when Mayo produced an exceptional performance to take Conor Counihan’s side out of the equation.
O’Connor took in the first-half in Croke Park before making for home with the rest of the Kerry side but he was on hand long enough to be impressed by the Mayo defence and the manner in which they stuck to their task.
“The Mayo management got their match-ups right,” O’Connor told RTE last night.
“Looking at them now, they will be difficult to crack because they have players playing serious football at the minute.
“The two O’Sheas were very good and Alan Dillon a serious player. The other guy that is playing great football at the moment is Andy Moran.
“We realise we will have to up the ante big time now in three weeks’ time.”
Kerry chairman Jerome Conway said yesterday Cork’s absence may yet persuade some fans to think twice about a planned trip to the capital but he implored supporters to make for Croke Park in three weeks’ time.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
