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Colm Cooper. Sportsfile
Kingdom Future

Cooper hopeful that Kerry will not suffer 'mass exodus' like Cork

Tomás Ó Sé is the only confirmed retirement in the Kingdom ranks yet speculation persists over the future of Paul Galvin and Eoin Brosnan.

COLM COOPER REMAINS hopeful that Kerry will not be hit with ‘a mass exodus’ of retirements like Munster rivals Cork before the 2014 season.

Five long-serving Cork players have retired in recent weeks, while Ciaran Sheehan is set to move to AFL outfit Carlton.

So far Tomás Ó Sé is the only confirmed retirement in the Kingdom ranks yet speculation persists over the future of Paul Galvin and Eoin Brosnan.

“I think it’s the amount of Cork players who have gone is the biggest shock”, outlined Cooper. “I suppose Ciaran Sheehan is not a retirement.  He’s gone off exploring a different adventure.

“Hopefully we won’t see that in Kerry. Tomas has obviously made up his mind. As of yet I haven’t heard of any of the guys going or thinking about going. Hopefully there won’t be a mass exodus.”

Cooper is not going to interfere with Dr Crokes clubmate Brosnan’s decison-making process.

“I think where he’s at at the moment is very much similar to myself. The club is the most important thing. He’s a few young kids, he’s a solicitor and he works for himself so he has a big decision to make in the coming weeks.

“But I wouldn’t try to sway him one way or there other. He is old enough to make up his own mind so but he’s given great service and whatever way he decides he’s well entitled to.”

Captaincy

Cooper insists he has not considered the prospect of becoming Kerry captain again next year. He lead the Kingdom in 2010 and 2011 before Brosnan was installed as captain this season.

With Dr Crokes having recently won the Kerry championship for a fourth successive year, they have the honour of a club man captaining Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side next season.

Fionn Fitzgerald, Johnny Buckley and Kieran O’Leary are other Dr Crokes players who were involved with the Kerry senior setup this year.

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Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan in action for Dr Crokes
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

“I haven’t even thought about it to be honest. It wasn’t until the night of the county final that the captaincy was mentioned.

“There will probably be four or fives Crokes lads who will be looking to break into the team. We’ll have a chat about  it when the time is right. I’d say it’ll be something similar with Eamonn. For the moment it’s not a big issue for us.”

Cooper will be in action next Sunday for Dr Crokes in the AIB Munster senior club semi-final against Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney. The Kerry champions have a clean bill of health with Kieran O’Leary expected to recover after being concussed in their quarter-final win over Castlehaven.

“We’d a club game last weekend in the East Kerry championship and Kieran didn’t play. I think he’s going to be okay for that (next Sunday).

“We’ve our fingers crossed. It wasn’t a severe concussion or anything like that. He’s come out of it really, really well.”

******

AIB Ambassador, Colm Cooper features in the new AIB Club Championships campaign ‘The Toughest of them all’.  Cooper, who has 4 All Ireland title’s, 8 All Stars and 4 League titles but no AIB GAA Club Championship title, was speaking at the launch of the new TV advert he features in that aired this week.

For exclusive content and to see why the AIB Club Championships is the ‘toughest of them all’ follow us @AIB_GAA and #TheToughest

VIDEO: Check out Colm Cooper’s brilliant brace of goals for Dr Crokes today

Check out Colm Cooper’s goal amongst the four Dr Crokes hit yesterday

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