O'Connor not expecting injured Kerry cohort to recover for Division One final 

Kerry's Paudie Clifford. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Jack O’Connor is not expecting a wave of freshly fit players in time for next week’s Division One league final against Donegal.

The reigning league and All-Ireland champions secured a return to the decider with a draw away to Armagh on Sunday but the Kingdom boss revealed that neither Paudie Clifford nor Tony Brosnan will be available for the trip to Croke Park.

“Paudie, not quite now. We wouldn't be chancing him, maybe for the Championship game you might. With the history of injuries he had last year, we just want to be careful with him. I can't see too many coming back into it, to be honest.” 

Tadhg Morley had been named to face Armagh but dropped out of the matchday panel after suffering what O’Connor labelled “a small bit of muscle tightness” during the week while Paul Geaney is “nearly ready” despite suffering a minor setback in the last week as well.

Kerry are not short of talent or leaders in those absences.

David Clifford and Sean O’Shea have been leading lights throughout a seven-game campaign to date in which the Munster side has won four, drawn two and lost just the one (against next week’s final opponents Donegal).

Clifford kicked another 10 points away to Armagh on Sunday. O’Shea chipped in with just one late on but his fingerprints were all over so much of the attacking patterns his side stitched together in a hugely entertaining game.

“I know the hunger they're showing, they're literally playing every minute,” said O’Connor. “I know David was off for the Donegal game, but Sean O'Shea has had some campaign. It's just their consistency and their hunger and their desire, that's just contagious.

“It rubs off on the other players.”