O'Sullivan absent for Kerry

League, Munster and All-Ireland champions Kerry get their 2005 competitive campaign underway tomorrow without captain Declan O'Sullivan.

Kerry travel to Clonmel to take on Tipperary in the McGrath Cup quarter-final, and O'Sullivan is sidelined with a knee injury, for which he may need an operation.

O'Sullivan said: "I will have to give it a few weeks' rest and then see what I have to do. It is still

giving me a bit of trouble and I will not be rushing back that quickly with it."

Kerry are also without John Sheehan (groin) and Tommy Griffin (ankle).

Padraig Reidy, Darren O'Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Paddy Kelly, Noel Kennelly, Kieran Cremin and Declan Quill could be in the starting line-up, while Seamus Moynihan, sidelined since the Munster semi-final, may also return.