Kerry not defending McGrath Cup

McGRATH CUP champions Kerry will not be defending their title in the province’s pre-season football competition in January.

Despite having claimed the last two titles, Kerry’s inability to field a strong team has been cited as the main reason for the withdrawal according to outgoing county chairman Jerome Conway.

He reasoned: “We wouldn’t have a strong enough team for it. That’s what it boils down to. Some of the senior players will be taking an extended break and they will be using January to train rather than to play, so they will be back in time for the start of the National League in early February when we play Dublin.

“Our younger players, with whom we would have been depending on, will all be playing college football in January, with a lot playing in the McGrath Cup with the colleges as preparation for the Sigerson Cup.

“If they are playing with the colleges then they can’t play with Kerry, so we wouldn’t have a realistic team to field.”

Kerry are the only inter-county side in Munster that will not compete.

Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary and Clare are all involved, as well as UCC, CIT, UL, LIT, WIT and IT Tralee.

The preliminary round will be on January 8.

See digest for draws