Eamonn Fitzmaurice warns of club fixture disruption if Kerry win
The Allianz FL Division 1 decider is scheduled for Sunday, April 24 and with club championship games earmarked for that weekend, club players will be left standing idle were Kerry to see off Roscommon this Sunday.
Indeed, were the Kerry U21’s to see off Cork in Thursday evening’s Munster final, the weekend of April 16 would also be struck from the calendar in terms of club games – the All-Ireland U21 semi-finals are pencilled in here.
The availability of weekends for club fixtures later this month was discussed at last night’s County Board meeting in Tralee.
“For the lads in charge of making fixtures in the county, some of the club fixtures will probably suffer a small bit were we to make the final, which is one of the unfortunate things, probably the only unfortunate thing of progressing in the league,” Fitzmaurice said last night.
The Kerry boss stressed the importance of victory this weekend so to shorten the break afforded to his squad between the conclusion of the league and Kerry’s Munster championship opener on the weekend of June 11.
“Making a final cuts down on the break we have before championship.
“From our own perspective, that is definitely a very positive thing.
“If you can shorten that gap or minimise it to about six or seven weeks, it would be a big help. It is a challenging time of the year every year. If we can cut it down, we would be delighted with that.”
Fitzmaurice confirmed that Aidan O’Mahony, Darran O’Sullivan, and Paul Geaney – all three players were absent through injury for Sunday’s win over Cork – will be available for selection for the clash with Roscommon.
Captain Bryan Sheehan, who has not played since picking up a hand injury against Mayo on April 13, remains a doubt.
“With regard to Bryan, we won’t know until we train during the week. We will see how he is. We won’t rush him.
“Paul Geaney had a tight hamstring before the Cork game on Sunday morning. It was tight from the weekend before. He will be grand. I would expect him to train fully this week. Anthony Maher and James O’Donoghue won’t be back.”
With Cork dropping to Division 2 and two Ulster teams, Cavan and Tyrone, stepping up to the top table in 2017, Kerry is the sole county on the bottom half of the map who will operate in the top flight next spring.
“It will be a challenge,” said Fitzmaurice of the several long journeys facing his team. “On the other side of it, whatever teams are coming to Kerry, it will be a trip for them. I think we had three home games this year, so generally, you have four home games next year. That should make it easier. It will be a challenge but there is a lot of football to be played before we worry about that.”
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