Kerry hope Cooper’s club focus pays dividends

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice is hoping that giving Colm Cooper the time and space he needs to focus on winning an All-Ireland club medal with Dr Crokes will rebound in the Kingdom’s favour later this season.

An All-Ireland club victory is the one medal ‘Gooch’ is missing from his collection, and Fitzmaurice knows the importance of March 17’s final against Slaughtneil for the player and his club in Killarney.

Until then, the Kerry boss insists he doesn’t need to know Gooch’s inter-county intentions for 2017.