Eamonn Fitzmaurice has ruled out the prospect of Colm Cooper playing in the All-Ireland SFC final.

Eyebrows were raised when the Dr Crokes clubman, who is recovering from surgery on a cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained last February, was togged out and took part in the Kerry team warm-up before Saturday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay victory over Mayo at the Gaelic Grounds.

It has led to speculation that Cooper could play some part against Donegal in the September 21 decider, but Fitzmaurice insists that he won't return to action until next year "bar a miracle". The Kerry manager has also rubbished suggestions that the decision to include the 30-year-old among the subs was a psychological ploy.

"No, it's just that he deserved to get a jersey. That's all it was. It just shows the kind of man he is. It must be very, very hard for him being there and looking on and seeing what's going on," he said.

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