James O'Donoghue misses provincial decider
Kerry manager Peter Keane has made four changes to his side for Saturday night's Munster Senior Football final with Cork.
The Kingdom are seeking a seventh consecutive senior provincial title when the sides meet at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and their 81st in all. It's 2012 since Cork last tasted success in Munster.
Paul Murphy and captain Gavin White return in the wing-back positions for the Kingdom. Shane Enright and Gavin Crowley drop to the bench having started the 1-15 to 0-12 win over Clare three-weeks ago
Jack Barry has been chosen to partner David Moran in midfield, with Adrian Spillane the man to miss out. The other change sees Championship debutant Dara Moynihan named at corner-forward. And there's no James O'Donoghue named in the matchday squad of 26. O'Donoghue scored 1-1 against Clare last time out, but was taken off 18-minutes into the second half of that game with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Cork are unchanged from their 3-18 to 0-06 semi final trouncing of Limerick.
Kerry Senior Football Team to play @OfficialCorkGAA in the Munster Final pic.twitter.com/ne66cfNB6J
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) June 20, 2019
Sean O'Shea has been one of the revelations of the Championship so far this summer. The Kenmare forward has told Radio Kerry this week that their win over Clare was far from the blueprint for further success, "Generally we would have been happy enough with how the first half went. We'd probably be happy enough with how we performed, but obviously we want to be more clinical when the chances come our way.
"In the second half it was probably a bit sloppy from us, we probably had too many turnovers. But we've been working hard on that in the last few weeks, it's an area we've concentrated on and look to improve on in the Munster final."
Kerry were 3-18 to 2-4 winners over Cork in last year's final, but Keane is reading little into previous encounters, "If you look at that game last year, I think after 20-minutes it was really nip and tuck. And for some reason the game turned against Cork at that point, and they didn't come back from it. But up to that, they had taken a substantial lead against Kerry last year."
Keane says the Rebels' midfield is one area where Cork could provide threat on Saturday night, "with [Killian] O'Hanlon and Ian Maguire there, they're two very very good strong players. And Ruairí Deane then stepping out to help them. You've Paul Kerrigan who's around a long time, a very experienced player. They've got good depth.
Kerry team v Cork:
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
3. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
4. Tom O'Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Jack Sherwood (Firies)
7. Gavin White (Dr. Crokes)
8. David Moran (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)
10. Diarmuid O'Connor (Na Gaeil)
11. Sean O'Shea (Kenmare)
12. Stephen O'Brien (Kenmare)
13. David Clifford (Fossa)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15. Dara Moynihan (Spa, Killarney)
Subs:
16. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
17. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
18. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe)
19. Mark Griffin (St. Michaels/Foilmore)
20. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
21. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
22. Brian Ó Beaglaíoch (An Ghaeltacht)
23. Micheál Burns (Dr. Crokes)
24. Graham O'Sullivan (Piarsaigh na Dromoda)
25. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
26. Gavin O'Brien (Kerins O'Rahilly's)
