Maurice Fitzgerald is fast approaching full fitness as Kerry wind down their preparations for the All-Ireland football final with Galway on Sunday week. The hugely talented forward is almost completely recovered from the toe injury suffered in the drawn semi-final with Armagh but it remains to be seen whether manager Paidi O Se will give him his first start of the season.
Fitzgerald has been Kerry's wonder substitute of the championship, particularly in the first semi-final outing with Armagh when his second-half goal and last minute free rescued his side for another day. He was also a second-half entry in the replay. "Maurice has been playing a full part in training since the semi-final replay," said the county's PRO Willie O'Connor.
Liam Hassett also appears to have fully recovered from his hamstring injury. He was kept out of the starting line-up for the replay with Armagh although he was soon brought on as a substitute to significant effect. Left half forward Noel Kennelly had also been troubled by a back injury in the build-up to the semi-final replay but he too is now fully fit. It is expected the entire Kerry panel will have an open training session for the press in Killarney tomorrow afternoon.
Meanwhile, Limerick under-21 hurling manager Dave Keane keeps faith with the same 15 players for Sunday's All-Ireland final with Galway in Thurles.
Limerick are in search of their first title since 1987 - their last appearance in the final - and have certainly carved a convincing path to the last stage. Cork fell victim by 21 points in the Munster final replay and then there was a 12-point margin over Antrim in last month's semi-final.
The starting 15 has now remained unchanged from that which beat Clare in the first round of the Munster championship. Senior dual players - Brian Begley, Stephen Lucey and Brian Geary - once again form the backbone of the side.
The 6ft 5in Begley starts at full forward, Lucey at midfield alongside the equally influential John Meskell, and Geary in his familiar berth at centre back. The same trio were also involved in Limerick's historic Munster under-21 football title last April.
Opponents Galway - beaten finalists for the last three years - were forced to omit their influential midfielder David Tierney due to a torn calf muscle.
David Donoghue, a twin brother of midfielder Shane, takes up Tierney's position at left corner forward. The other change from the side that beat Offaly in the semi-final sees Damien Joyce replace Gavin Cleary at corner forward. Meanwhile, Peter Canavan will get a chance to prove Brian McEniff wrong this weekend after he omitted last year's vice-captain from the squad to face Australia next month. The Ireland International Rules manager is expected to attend the Tyrone senior football championship final replay between Canavan's Errigal Ciaran and champions Carrickmore.
Limerick Under-21 (v Galway): T Houlihan; D Reale, E Mulcahy, P Reale; P O'Reilly, B Geary, W Walsh; J Meskell, S Lucey; P O'Grady, S O'Connor, D Stapleton; D Sheehan, B Begley, M Keane.
Galway Under-21: C Callanan; E McDonagh, D Cloonan, J Cannon; D Hardiman, C Dervan, S Morgan; S Donoghue, J Culkin; D Forde, E Hyland, E Donoghue; D Joyce, D Huban, D Donoghue.
