Major player exodus hits Crokes plans

Kerry and Munster senior football champions, Dr Crokes, face a player exodus before they open their title defence.

Chairman and selector Vincent Casey confirmed the club will be short a number of high profile regulars during the summer

He explained: “Chris Brady, Daithi Casey and David O’Leary flew out to Boston where they will play with St Christopher’s for the summer. Shane O’Neill flew out to Boston and will be playing for another club out there. Niall O’Connell, an up and coming player is working in England but he will be able to come back, if we want himBut three lads who started against Crossmaglen (All-Ireland club semi-final) are gone for the summer.”

Casey said the seniors must also plan without county men — Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan, Kieran O’Leary, Johnny Buckley and Fionn Fitzgerald — during the county league. He admitted: “It is difficult because after the first round there is no championship again until late August. There is simply no incentive for the lads to stay.”