Three changes for Kerry side to face Dublin

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has made three changes in personnel for Sunday's crunch Allianz League clash with Dublin in Killarney (throw-in 2pm).

Three changes for Kerry side to face Dublin

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has made three changes in personnel for Sunday's crunch Allianz League clash with Dublin in Killarney (throw-in 2pm).

Tomás Ó Sé will make an earlier than expected return for the Kingdom, having initially been set to sit out their first two league matches.

But the 34-year-old has been drafted in by Fitzmaurice at centre-back for the visit of Dublin. Kerry need to steady the ship after a disappointing 0-15 to 1-6 opening defeat to Mayo.

"Look, last Sunday was very disappointing, there's no doubt about that," admitted Ó Sé to the Irish Times.

"But at the same time it's still very early in the year, players are working very hard, and the feeling is we are going to get better.

"So we wouldn't be reading too deeply into that result. Not scoring in the second half, now that is something we can't be happy about, and again, the players know they'll have to work a lot harder on Sunday."

Ó Sé slots back into the defence at the expense of Shane Enright, who picked up a slight hamstring injury against Mayo. Peter Crowley is now stationed at left corner back.

Johnny Buckley is club-tied as he prepares for Dr Crokes' All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final against Ballymun Kickhams on Saturday week.

Buckley's place in midfield has been taken by free taker Bryan Sheehan, who was a substitute in Castlebar. The final change sees Listowel's Conor Cox make way for Barry John Keane at left corner forward.

Ó Sé added: "There is still something magical about Kerry playing Dublin. It's always been there, and I still feel it anyway.

"Dublin are going well, very well, seem to be getting a lot out of the players, and bringing players through, so this one is going to be very tough."

Declan O'Sullivan, David Moran and Donnachadh Walsh remain on Kerry's injury list, while Kieran Donaghy is currently honeymooning and not due back in county colours until next month.

As well as Buckley, the club-tied contingent also includes Colm 'Gooch' Cooper, Eoin Brosnan and Kieran O'Leary (all Dr Crokes) and Paul Galvin (Finuge).

KERRY (NFL v Dublin): Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Peter Crowley; Jonathan Lyne, Tomás Ó Sé, Killian Young; Anthony Maher (capt), Bryan Sheehan; Michael Geaney, Darran O’Sullivan, Michael O’Donoghue; James O’Donoghue, Patrick Curtin, Barry John Keane.

Substitutes: Brian Kelly, Shane Enright, Conor Cox, Brian Maguire, Shane Carroll, Andrew Garnett, David Culhane, Barry John Walsh, Mark Griffin, Darragh O’Sullivan, James Walsh.

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