Kerry planning to be without star man Conway for Joe McDonagh Cup

Shane Conway of Kerry during the 2024 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group B match against Tipperary. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Kerry manager Stephen Molumphy says the Kingdom hurlers are planning to be without Shane Conway for the majority, if not all, of this year's Joe McDonagh Cup. 

Due to injuries, the Lixnaw man featured just once for Kerry in their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A campaign as they finished fifth in the table. 

It is a major blow for a side which had already lost several key players, including Mikey and Podge Boyle and Eoin Ross, going into this season. 

“Shane unfortunately won’t make the championship at all,” said Waterford man Molumphy.

“Best case, very best case, maybe the end of the [Joe McDonagh Cup], but at the moment he’s not in our plans for the championship.

“He is [a huge loss], but as we say here the team isn’t just one person and we have players to step up in the league to fulfil that role.

“We’ll miss him definitely, it just give others guys here the opportunity to step up and fill the void.”

Kerry face Westmeath in the opening round of the McDonagh Cup at Cusack Park on Sunday, April 21.