Donaghy's availability gives O'Connor plenty to ponder

KERRY MANAGER Jack O’Connor is facing what might be called a selection blessing ahead of the All-Ireland football final following the news that Kieran Donaghy has returned to full training and is bidding to regain his place in the forward line for the showdown with Cork in Croke Park on Sunday week.

Donaghy took a full part in Kerry training sessions over the weekend, unlike recent weeks, where he was limited to mostly running practice – without wearing his boots – due to the recurrence of a broken bone in his foot sustained in the All-Ireland qualifier against Longford on July 11th. He has not featured for Kerry in the four games since, although he was included on the list of substitutes for the semi-final against Meath last Sunday week.

Now, however, Donaghy is effectively back to full fitness, but it still seems unlikely O’Connor will return him to the starting 15.

His lack of match practice may count against him, and it’s more likely Tommy Walsh will be restored to the starting line-up after being dropped for the Meath game. Yet, Walsh was called into action just 27 minutes into game, replacing Donnacha Walsh, and responded in devastating fashion – scoring 1-3 in the early second half rush that put an end to Meath’s chances.

It seems more likely, therefore, that Walsh will start this time in place of his namesake, with Donaghy kept in reserve.

O’Connor is enjoying a largely injury-free run to Sunday week’s final. There was some surprise when Aidan O’Mahony lined out for his club Rathmore in a senior football league match against Tarbert over the weekend, although he came through without any problems. Forward Seán O’Sullivan was also in action for his club Cromane at the weekend as they defeated Ballydonoghue.

Neither O’Mahony nor O’Sullivan were able to nail down a starting place for the Meath game – although O’Mahony did come on as a substitute – and it’s likely they won’t start against Cork either. The Cork camp are also reporting an injury-free build-up to Sunday week.

Meanwhile, the problem of underage GAA talent taking up offers from Australian Football League clubs continues with the news that one of Derry’s brightest prospects, Chrissy McKaigue, has signed for the Sydney Swans.

The 20-year-old from Slaughtneil has agreed a two-year international rookie deal and will move to Sydney at the end of next month in the hope of following in the footsteps of Tadhg Kennelly, who won an AFL Premiership medal with the Swans in 2005.

Finally, the battle to top the 2009 senior football championship scoring chart will go right down to Sunday week as Colm “Gooch” Cooper of Kerry and Donncha O’Connor of Cork are still in close contention.

Donegal’s Michael Murphy currently leads the table on 0-36, followed by Cian Ward of Meath on 3-26 (35 points), but with these players done for the year, the attention turns to Cooper and O’Connor who are in joint third place on a total of 31 points.

The annual GOAL hurling challenge takes place this evening when All-Ireland champions Kilkenny take on Ballyhale Shamrocks at Kilkenny’s Nowlan Park. Throw-in is at 6.30pm.