Injury setback likely to keep Earley out of Kildare’s plans

Dermot Earley has all but ruled out playing for Kildare in 2013 but hasn’t accepted that his inter-county career is over.

The Sarsfields clubman, who turns 35 in July, has not started a championship match for the Lilywhites since the 2010 All-Ireland quarter-final against Meath due to knee injuries.

Earley then hurt his back in the warm-up to Kildare’s league game against Dublin at Croke Park in March and had to go for two surgeries, with manager Kieran McGeeney initially fearing the midfielder might struggle to walk again.