Cooper facing spell on the sidelines

Colm Cooper will be absent for most of Kerry’s 2012 Allianz Football League campaign after going under the knife to clear a long-standing ankle problem.

The Gooch is delaying the operation until after Dr Crokes' club campaign but will face a three-month spell on the sidelines after the surgery. He has been troubled by an ankle injury since the All-Ireland decider and Sunday’s Kerry final was the first time he felt 100%.