Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue can't wait to play alongside Tommy Walsh and Colm Cooper next year.

Walsh is returning to the Kerry colours after five years in Aussie Rules, while Cooper is on the mend after undergoing cruciate ligament surgery earlier this year.

O'Donoghue, who himself is recovering from shoulder surgery, told the Irish Daily Star before the All Stars tour departed Dublin Airport for Boston yesterday: "I never played with Tommy, that will be interesting.

"In my head, I think he's going to be awesome but I don't want to put any expectation on him. Just leave him settle in slowly and surely and then with the Gooch, we all know him. He will be huge for us.

"I don't know where they'll play, but they'll be like two new signings who will freshen up the group. We're lucky really. "

On the flip side, Declan O'Sullivan has retired and the Legion clubman concedes he's a big loss.

"You would see Declan at every training session he has to really strap up his knees, he was probably in the physio room for half an hour before every session getting ready. He has a young family and things as well.

"But he is such a leader and that is what is going to be missed for Kerry. He has an aura about him. Everybody has huge respect for him and he will be sorely missed, that's for sure."

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