DARRAGH Ó SÉ remains the only piece of Jack O’Connor’s Kerry jigsaw missing following the return of four players to training last week, who had not trained since the Kerry squad returned from their holiday in mid-January.
Defenders Tom O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Sé returned last week after taking a break since the All-Ireland final loss to Tyrone. Midfielder Michael Quirke and his Tralee Tigers team-mate Kieran Donaghy, who had microscopic knee surgery in December, have also rejoined the squad as they prepare for a difficult away trip to take on unbeaten Derry on Sunday week.
O’Connor has made no secret of the fact that he wants all his players back in training before March 1st. So the pressure has been on Darragh Ó Sé, who has been training on his own as he tries to shake off a hip injury, to return and it is expected that he will return either tonight or on Friday night, when Kerry are due to train.
Kerry will have to plan without David Moran and Tommy Walsh for the Derry trip as they will switch to the under-21 panel who are preparing under Seán Geaney. They who will travel to Cork on Saturday March 14th to defend their All-Ireland under-21 title against great rivals Cork.
Tadhg Kennelly played with his club Listowel Emmets last weekend in the North Kerry League and was very impressive, albeit against a very depleted Duagh side.
Kennelly has been showing up well in training and all the indications are he will feature in the 24-man squad that travels to Derry.
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