Kerry midfielder Sean O’Brien sidelined following ACL injury

Sean O'Brien of Kerry in action against Darragh Beirne of Mayo. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Kerry midfielder Sean O’Brien is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines having suffered an ACL injury in Beaufort's Kerry IFC match against Glenflesk on Saturday evening last. 

Beaufort were well on top approaching half-time when O’Brien was seen to fall away from the play before he was taken from the pitch, appearing to be in severe discomfort.

A visit to Santry early this week for a scan confirmed the worst fears, as he has done his cruciate and also sustained some cartilage damage.

O’Brien formed a crucial midfield partnership with Mark O’Shea and that continued throughout 2026, though ultimately, Kerry lost the All-Ireland final to Mayo.

He is the third Beaufort player to suffer a cruciate injury over the last 18 months with Sean Coffey - now back on the field - along with Kerry panellist Darragh Dennehy.

He will be a huge loss to club and county, though Jack O’Connor will have options when Barry Dan O'Sullivan returns, plus players like Charlie Keating, Evan Boyle and Daniel Kirby may well have to move up the pecking order.

Kerry have now lost three players to the dreaded ACL injury in the last 18 months - the other two being the above-mentioned O'Sullivan, as well as Damien Bourke.

However, after going under the knife in July, O'Sullivan made an appearance during the County League and returned to the Kerry squad late in this year’s campaign. 

He suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss Dingle’s narrow loss to Rathmore in this year’s Senior Club opener last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kerry Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan is to sit down with Jack O’Connor to finalise the Kerry senior management for 2027 which will be ratified by clubs at next Tuesday’s County Board meeting.

O’Sullivan, while unable to confirm or deny that Cian O’Neill was gone, reported this week in the Irish Examiner, did confirm that Shane O’Rourke will have sole responsibility for the strength and conditioning of the Kerry senior squad with Jason McGahon stepping down from a job he held as a volunteer for eight seasons.

McGahan retains his role as a full-time head of athletic development, and will oversee strength and conditioning from all Kerry teams down to the underage development squads.

Kerry 'keeper Shane Ryan has undergone his quad surgery and will not feature with his club Rathmore this year, while fellow netminder Shane Murphy has postponed his shoulder surgery as he tries to help Dr Crokes retain their club title.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that John Griffin will remain on for another year as manager of the Kerry senior hurlers but he has lost his coach, Shane Brick, though Aidan Healy and Sean Maunsell will remain as part of his management team.