Team news: Gooch returns

June 11, 2015

Kerry's Colm Cooper before the Tyrone game at Healy Park, Omagh.
©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton.

Colm Cooper will start for Kerry versus Tipperary in the Munster SFC semi-final at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

The eight-time All-Star, who suffered cruciate knee ligament damage and a fractured knee cap while playing for his club Dr Crokes in 2014, has been handed the number eleven jersey by manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice. 'Gooch's' last championship appearance was the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

2014 Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue has been kept in reserve along with Brian Kelly, Stephen O'Brien, Aidan O'Mahony, Darran O'Sullivan, Fionn Fitzgerald and Donnchadh Walsh while All-Stars Paul Murphy and David Moran, Kieran O'Leary and Paul Galvin are all ruled out with injuries.

The Kingdom have seven survivors from last year's All-Ireland final victory over Donegal in Marc Ó Sé, Peter Crowley, Killian Young, Anthony Maher, Johnny Buckley, Paul Geaney and captain Kieran Donaghy.

There is a first championship start for Killarney Legion's Jonathan Lyne at right half-back.

Kerry (SF v Tipperary) - Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; Anthony Maher, Bryan Sheehan; Michael Geaney, Colm Cooper, Johnny Buckley; Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, Barry John Keane.

Subs: Brian Kelly, James O'Donoghue, Stephen O'Brien, Aidan O'Mahony, Darran O'Sullivan, Fionn Fitzgerald, Tommy Walsh, Alan Fitzgerald, Donnchadh Walsh, Jack Sherwood, Pa Kilkenny.


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