Gooch to miss most of league campaign

COLM Cooper will be absent for most of Kerry’s 2012 Allianz Football League campaign after going under the knife to clear a long-standing ankle problem.

The Gooch is delaying the operation until after Dr Crokes club campaign but will face a three-month spell on the sidelines after the surgery. He has been troubled by an ankle injury since the All-Ireland decider and Sunday’s Kerry final was the first time he felt 100%.

“Sunday was the first day it felt good again. I knew last Tuesday night that it was back 100% again. It’s been pretty taped up for the last few games and I was just getting by really,” he said.