*Sean O’Donoghue leaps in the air watched by David Tubridy. Photograph: Martin Connolly
Three of Colm Collins’ key men have overcome various injury complaints and are available for selection as Kerry travel to Ennis on Saturday with a place in the Munster senior football championship on offer.
Sean O’Donoghue, David Tubridy and Cathal O’Connor all of whom were not fit enough to start Clare’s quarter-final win over Waterford have returned to training and are expected to enter the first fifteen as the Banner go in search of their first championship win against Kerry since a memorable day in 1992.
It will be the first championship appearance for Tubridy, while Clare would have hoped to finish at the other end of the table in Allianz National Football League than which they did, the Doonbeg attacker excelled scoring 3-26 in seven games. It is anticipated he will return to the full-forward line to appear in his twelfth championship campaign.
Similar to David, Cooraclare’s Sean O’Donoghue was another positive to emerge from the League. His Meath display in particular was impressive and his fielding ability will be a major plus for Collin and co to call upon.
Cathal O’Connor was sprung from the bench in the second half of the Waterford game for the final quarter as Clare struggled to put a score on the board. He replaced Darragh Bohannon who picked up a black card and the Coolmeen man is likely to be on the field from the get go in place of Bohannon.
