IT’S only the league but, following losses to Dublin and Roscommon, Kerry really need the points when they travel to play Down in the National League round three tie on Sunday.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice will be hoping for a vastly improved performance at Páirc Esler in Newry if his side is to avoid a tense relegation battle for the second season running.
The chosen side shows six changes in personnel and a number of positional changes from the side defeated by Roscommon.
Brendan Kealy takes over from Brian Kelly in goal, Marc Ó Sé comes into the full back line for his first game of the season in place of his Gaeltacht clubmate Brian Ó Beaglaóich, Padraig O’Connor comes into the half back line in place of Paul Murphy who moves to the attack and Fionn Fitzgerald also starts in the half back line instead of Killian Young.
Team captain, Bryan Sheehan, comes in for Johnny Buckley to partner David Moran at midfield, and up front, Aidan Walsh of St Marys makes his League debut in place of Jonathan Lyne.
Paul Murphy starts at centre forward with Barry John Keane the one to lose out while Castlegregory’s Alan Fitzgerald takes over at full forward from Tommy Walsh.
Killian Young, Johnny Buckley and Jonathan Lyne are carrying knocks and are not part of Sunday’s match day squad.
The substitutes’ list is notable for the return to the match day panel of Colm Cooper, last year’s captain Kieran Donaghy and Peter Crowley.
Although they were without several regulars, Kerry were way off their game against Roscommon in their last outing and the fact that they went almost 25 minutes without a single score – playing on home soil in Fitzgerald Stadium – really says it all.
They now find themselves in a situation where they have to win on Sunday to keep their hopes of a semi-final place alive, not to mention the threat of dropping from the top flight.
But they won’t find it easy as opponents Down, are in exactly the same position having
suffered a 17 points defeat to of Donegal while also losing out to Monaghan in the last round.
Kerry Under 21 players, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan and Barry O’Sullivan, having helped the seniors in the opening two rounds, have returned to training with Jack O’Connor’s crew for the remainder of Kerry’s involvement in that championship.
The team for Sunday is: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht); Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore); Shane Enright (Tarbert); Podge O’Connor (Legion); Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore); Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes); David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys); Bryan Sheehan (St Marys); Aidan Walsh (St Marys); Paul Murphy (Rathmore); Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar); Alan Fitzgerad (Castlegregory); Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare).
Subs: Brian Kelly (Legion); Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys); Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys); Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes); Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks); Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia); Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar); Paul O’Sullivan (Valentia); Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers); Philip O’Connor (Cordal); Denis Daly (St Marys).
