Kieran Donaghy hints he’ll be back for Kerry

Kerry’s 2015 captain Kieran Donaghy has dropped the biggest hint yet that he will continue with the Kingdom in 2016.

Speaking on Radio Kerry’s Terrace Talk last night, the 32-year-old forward revealed that he’s been working hard on his fitness in recent weeks, with a view to committing to manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice in the New year.

Donaghy said: “That’s what I want to make sure…that the body’s in a place where I can go.

“The level of commitment to be a Kerry senior is gone up even tenfold.”

When presenter Weeshie Fogarty suggested that Donaghy still has plenty to offer in the green and gold, he replied: “Yeah, yeah. I know that. It’s a huge privilege and an honour to be even thinking about going back playing with Kerry because when I was a youngster, I was waiting for that call to come in for the winter for Kerry training.

“It’s great to have that knowledge, knowing that if I get in good shape and I’m in shape that’s eligible to play for Kerry, that I’ll be able to go in there and give it my best shot again with the lads.

“We’ll make that decision in the New Year. Up until January, it’s about getting as fit as I can get.”

Donaghy has returned to playing basketball at local level and allied to recent club commitments with Austin Stacks, he has remained in good shape.

Last Sunday, Donaghy helped Tralee outfit Stacks to retain senior status against Laune Rangers, who were relegated to the intermediate grade.

Donaghy added: “I went back playing basketball this year... I feel reenergized from the basketball.

“I’m doing a bit of training by myself, trying to get the fitness levels up and trying to make sure that the body is in good shape over Christmas, that you’re not packing on the pounds and then trying to lose it all in January.

“I’m starting a new job in January so I have the six-week window where I can almost live like a professional, train hard and that’s what I’m doing. “I’m resting, (wife) Hilary and (daughter) Lola Rose are playing a two-man show at home and I’m flat out trying to get my body in as good a shape as possible and try to enjoy the winter break.”