Earley will have late start to championship

Kildare football has been rocked by the news that star midfielder Dermot Earley will miss their championship opener against Longford on May 25.

Earley has been out of action since a recurrence of a foot injury while on duty for college outfit GMIT against Maynooth in February.

The Sarsfields ace has been told he needs an operation to cure the injury following visits to medical chiefs at Manchester United.