O’Leary ready to grasp chance

LAST year he was the forgotten man. As Dr Crokes washed away a decade of Kerry county championship heartache and celebrated riotously after last October’s final in Austin Stack Park, Kieran O’Leary had a peripheral role in their squad.

A freak collision in the county quarter-final against West Kerry in Tralee earlier in the year saw O’Leary break a bone in his leg and he was confined to a role on the sidelines.

Yet there has been a marked transformation in the last 12 months. Restored to full fitness, O’Leary has blossomed in club colours this year and has been a key component in propelling Dr Crokes to another county final showdown next Sunday. When Dr Crokes’ challenge has been flagging over the past month, O’Leary has stood up to nudge them over the finishing line.