Kerry need good show as Donaghy returns

Longford v Kerry:THE UNCANNY sense of timing which marks Kieran Donaghy's return to the Kerry team is the obvious talking point here, but far from the only one. Kerry will win but it's the performance that counts even more, particularly in the positions that Jack O'Connor has redesigned since the Munster semi-final defeat to Cork.

Donaghy famously made his name at full forward in a similar fixture three years ago, and the hope is that his return after the foot injury that has sidelined him since the National Football League win over Derry at the end of April will provide a similar catalyst for Kerry’s rejuvenation all the way to September.

But equally pivotal are the performances of Tommy Griffin at full back, Marc Ó Sé at centre back and Aidan O’Shea at half back. Also up front where Donnacha Walsh and Seán O’Sullivan are reintroduced for Tadhg Kennelly, who is ruled out with a broken bone in his finger, and Paul Galvin, who is suspended after receiving a straight red card against Cork.

Yet again Kerry have vast reserves on the bench, including Bryan Sheehan, Darran O’Sullivan, and the recently resuscitated Mike McCarthy, but O’Connor will be eager to find his best starting 15, particularly as next weekend’s third-round qualifier could throw up a far more difficult challenge.

Longford will start with the same team which beat Leitrim last Saturday, and will once again look to Brian Kavanagh, who hit 1-6 in their qualifier meeting of three years ago, to keep them in touch.

KERRY: D Murphy; K Young, T Griffin, T O’Sullivan; T Ó Sé, M Ó Sé, A O’Shea; D Ó Sé, S Scanlon; D Walsh, Declan O’Sullivan, S O’Sullivan; C Cooper, K Donaghy, T Walsh.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Reilly, B Gilleran, D Brady; D Masterson, E Williams, N Farrell; G Dennigan, K Smith; S Mulligan, F McGee, P Berry; P Barden, C Minagh, B Kavanagh.