KERRY FULL-FORWARD Kieran Donaghy says his future with the county will be “decided over the next few weeks.”
The 34-year-old has returned to basketball action with Super League side Tralee Warriors for the winter, but says he’ll make a call in the coming weeks whether or not to extend his inter-county career into a 14th year.
Donaghy enjoyed a return to prominence this summer and became a key figure in the Kerry attack, with a devastating All-Ireland quarter-final display against Galway the highlight of his summer.
He was sent off in the semi-final replay defeat to Mayo in August, and in the aftermath of that game it was speculated that would be his last act in the green and gold.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice recently agreed on a new three-year term as Kerry manager. The length of his deal indicates he may look to the future and set about building a new team backboned by All-Ireland minor winners to challenge Dublin’s supremacy.
If that line of thinking is to be believed, it would leave an elder statesman like Donaghy at risk of reduced game-time in the coming season.
Asked on Terrace Talk if he had unfinished business in a Kerry jersey, Donaghy replied:
“Yerra, I’ll have unfinished business in the Kerry jersey until I go to the grave, I’ve lost so many All-Irelands and big games.
“If I didn’t have to worry about a new baby at home and work…I’m busier than I’ve ever been in a job, we’re gone so busy that me saying I’ve to be in gym Monday, on the pitch Tuesday, in the gym Thursday and on the pitch Friday and Sunday is going to be tough.
“I got the job two years ago on the premise I was finished, and I’m still here talking about it!
“It’ll all be decided over the next few weeks.”
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