Nolan returns to Kerry fold, Murphy injury a massive blow to new boss Griffin

2017: Shane Nolan of Kerry celebrates. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

On the evening that Kerry’s Fionán Mackessy was named to start for his adopted Killkenny, Kerry senior hurling manager John 'Tweek' Griffin revealed that another Kerry hurling legend, Shane Nolan, has decided to come out of retirement and is back training with the Kerry squad.

Nolan was a long-serving member of the Kerry senior hurling team, starting his inter-county career in 2010 and being named Christy Ring Hurler of the Year in 2012 as well as playing in two Joe McDonagh Cup finals with the Kingdom.

However, in April 2022 he quit the Kerry panel prior to the start of that season’s Joe McDonagh Cup campaign after he fell out of favour with then-Kerry boss Stephen Molumphy. Nolan disputed the manager's claim that he had walked after being named on the bench. 

Nolan went on record saying he was "shocked and disappointed at the manager's comments” and cited family and business reasons for stepping away. 

But his club form for Crotta O’Neill’s, which saw him lead his side to their first SHC title in 55 years in 2023, as well as his displays in 2024, had him close to the top of the scoring charts in the championship. 

Now, former teammate Griffin has accepted him back into the fold. 

“I played with Shane for a good few years, and I've always got on well with him,” the new Kerry boss revealed at his pre-league press briefing on Thursday evening.

“It was just a text and then a follow-up with a phone call and just a conversation. Like, I've always said that to them I treat them as people first and player second.

“I understand with some of them, they have work commitments, family commitments, and other things. So, look, I gave Shane a bit little bit of time the start, but he's been in since December now, and he's hardly missed a night in the last few weeks, so he's back full-time.

"I’m delighted to have him back and look, I suppose, I said that as well I can't really treat them all the same, sometimes from the point of view of maybe age profile or injury profile and other things. You kind of have to look after some lads.

"You want lads pushing on, but also you can't push fellas over the edge either. And I suppose I looked after Shane in that regard. I think that's important. I still think Shane always has something to offer.

“I still think there's a little bit of unfinished business for Shane as well. Maybe the way things finished last time. I suppose I'd like it to finish on a more positive note for him, and I think, like, he deserves that. So look again, delighted to have him back and looking to see what he does throughout the year.

“And look, it depends how he's going as well. He has to be putting in the work. Nothing in this is going to be based on the past or history and it’s on how our lads are performing and training, and how lads are performing in games. 

"That’s how we'll pick teams no matter who they are.” 

Nolan isn’t the only familiar name back in the fold with the senior hurling squad. Kilmoyley pair Daniel Collins and Paudie O’Connor return to the fold, as does Ballyduff’s Pádraig Boyle, and Causeway’s Thomas Casey.

Limerick players Louis Dee, Killian Hayes and Niall Mulcahy remain committed too despite the change in management, with young Abbeydorney players Oisín Maunsell, along with his cousin Jedd Maunsell are also new to the squad.

Kerry have lost Evan Murphy, who did his cruciate ligament last week playing in Fitzgibbon Cup with MTU Cork. The Ballyheigue duo of Michael Leane and Colin Walsh are unavailable, while Dan Goggin, Maurice O’Connor and Gavin Dooley have all gone travelling.