Star’s omission: Red herring or red alert for Rebel rearguard?

IT’S not like it hasn’t happened before. It’s not as if it was the biggest demotion of the day in the world of sport either. But Kieran Donaghy’s axing from the named Kerry team for Sunday’s Munster final has raised a variety of questions.

Firstly, what was the point of closing the gates of Fitzgerald Stadium if Donaghy’s omission could be leaked so easily? The team was scheduled to be announced this evening but was brought forward after whispers grew about the former footballer of the year’s relegation to the bench.

Closing the doors to Kerry training sessions had been taken by Eamonn Fitzmaurice having recognised as a selector with Jack O’Connor that some parts of the media had an uncanny ability to accurately predict one of their positional tactics or personnel switches prior to Championship games.