Fitzgerald and Donaghy get nod for Kingdom’s Cavan clash

Fionn Fitzgerald and Kieran Donaghy both come into the Kerry senior football side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Cavan in Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

Of the side which beat Cork in the Munster final at the start of this month, corner-back Mark Griffin drops to the bench and is replaced by Fitzgerald, while James O’Donoghue’s hamstring strain means that he misses out.

Donaghy is named at full-forward, while Declan O’Sullivan moves from number 14 to 13, Darran O’Sullivan continuing in the other corner. Defender Aidan O’Mahony, who missed the provincial decider after sustaining a dislocated elbow in training, is named among the substitutes.

There are also two alterations to the Kerry minor side for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final with Tyrone, which has a 12 noon start at GAA headquarters. The injured Robert Wharton is replaced by Seán T Dillon at left half-back, while Éanna Ó Conchúir takes over from Kevin Shanahan at left half-forward.

Meanwhile, the Cork hurlers got a boost last night as defender Brian Murphy returned to light training.

Murphy missed the Munster final defeat by Limerick and last Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Kilkenny following a broken collarbone, though he will not be fit enough to play in the semi-final against Dublin on Sunday week.

Elsewhere, Tyrone defender Justin McMahon is set to return for Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Ulster neighbours Monaghan (5pm).

The former All-Star full-back missed last weekend’s win over Meath, but his recovery from a calf strain has given the Red Hands a major boost as they emerge from a four-game winning run through the Qualifiers.

“Justy picked up a calf strain the week before the last game and has been struggling with it. He has been getting physio work done on it, and he’ll not be far away for selection. He’s back out training this week,” said team trainer Fergal McCann.

KERRY (SF v Cavan): B Kealy (Kilcummin); F Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes), M Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), S Enright (Tarbert); T Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), K Young (Renard), P Crowley (Laune Rangers); A Maher (Duagh), J Buckley (Dr Crokes); P Galvin (Finuge), C Cooper (Dr Crokes), D Walsh (Cromane); Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), K Donaghy (Austin Stacks), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar).

Subs: B Kelly (Killarney Legion), M Griffin (St Michael’s/Foilmore), E Brosnan (Dr Crokes), B Sheehan (St Mary’s), K O’Leary (Dr Crokes), P Curtin (Moyvane), D Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys), J Sherwood (Firies), P Geaney (Dingle), A O’Mahony (Rathmore), M Geaney (Dingle).

KERRY (MF v Tyrone): S Ryan (Rathmore); F Clifford (Waterville), C Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht), P Ó Conchúir (Dingle); M Flaherty (Dingle), D Foran (St Senan’s), ST Dillon (St Senan’s); G Horan (Austin Stacks), C Jordan (Austin Stacks); M Burns (Dr Crokes), J Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys), É Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht); C Keane (Legion), S O’Connor (John Mitchels), K Spillane (Templenoe).

Subs: D O’Shea (Ballydonoghue), B Sugrue (Renard), K Shanahan (Ardfert), K Murphy (Glenflesk), T O’Sullivan (Dingle), T Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), T Brosnan (Dr Crokes), B O’Sullivan (Dingle), J O’Kelly (Austin Stacks).