Micheál Burns named in matchday squad for Kerry's clash with Donegal

KERRY COMEBACK: Micheál Burns is set to make his Kerry comeback as he is named in the matchday squad for refixed Donegal clash. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Micheál Burns looks set to make his Kerry comeback in Saturday’s Allianz League fixture at home to Donegal after being included in the matchday panel.

Burns has not featured in green and gold in just over a year, the half-forward departing the panel a few weeks after starting the county’s 2024 League opener against Derry.

While surplus to inter-county requirements last season, his subsequent club championship form for Dr Crokes earned him a recall, with Burns’ return on the cusp of completion should he be used off the bench against Donegal.

There is just one change to the starting team that overcame Derry in last weekend’s six-goal feast. Donal O’Sullivan, who scored 1-1 when introduced at Celtic Park, replaces Killian Spillane at full-forward.

Elsewhere, the Southern Star is reporting this evening that Conor Cahalane has joined the Cork football panel.

Cahalane, who was a member of the Cork hurling set-up for the past number of years, was not included in the 37-man league panel announced by manager Pat Ryan midweek. It has now been confirmed that he has since fallen in with John Cleary’s footballers. Conor was a key cog in the back-to-back Cork Premier SFC-winning Castlehaven side of the past two years.

KERRY (Allianz FL v Donegal): S Ryan; D Bourke, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; G O’Sullivan, T Morley, S O’Brien; D O’Connor, BD O’Sullivan; P Clifford, S O’Shea, R Murphy; C Geaney, D O’Sullivan, D Geaney.

Subs: S Coffey, K Spillane, C Ó Beaglaoich, C Trant, TL O’Sullivan, P Geaney, K Evans, D Lyne, E Healy, M Breen, M Burns.