Colm Cooper set for Kerry comeback in Allianz League clash with Down

Colm Cooper is among a number of players who are likely to be available to Eamonn Fitzmaurice for Kerry’s Division 1 trip to Down on Sunday week.

After their respective successes with St Mary’s and St Brendan’s in winning the All-Ireland intermediate club football and basketball championships, this year’s captain Bryan Sheehan and his predecessor Kieran Donaghy could also come into consideration. Marc Ó Sé could also feature having taken an extended break.

Cooper is in training after fully recovering from a minor shoulder injury in December, which ruled him out of the opening round defeats to Dublin and Roscommon. Should the 32-year-old see some action in Newry, it will be his earliest season appearance for Kerry since 2011, when he lined out against Mayo in the second round. Since then, Cooper has started only eight out of Kerry’s total of 34 league games due to a combination of Dr Crokes commitments and injuries, namely the cruciate tear and knee damage he suffered in an All-Ireland club semi-final in February 2014.

Cooper was one of nine Kerry players who required an operation last year. Peter Crowley (shoulder), Paul and Mikey Geaney (both back), Kieran O’Leary (cruciate), and Anthony Maher (hip) are expected to be available next month and James O’Donoghue is set to return in April after the 2014 footballer of the year underwent a second shoulder surgery in as many years.

Meanwhile, after being closed for 11 months, the new Austin Stack Park sand-based surface will be tested by Kerry when they entertain Donegal on March 6.

It will form part of a double-header with the hurlers’ Division 1B clash with Wexford. The Tralee pitch will also host the final round game against Cork in April. The cost of Austin Stack Park’s €800,000 regeneration also included floodlighting improvements.