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.