KERRY FORWARD MIKEY Geaney has been ruled out for the season with a back injury while James O’Donoghue remains a doubt ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.
Captian Kieran Donaghy is back fit after being ruled out for the recent All-Ireland quarter-final with a groin injury.
2014 footballer of the year O’Donoghue was forced off in the first-half after colliding with Kildare goalkeeper Mark Donnellan and damaging his shoulder.
It was the latest injury setback for O’Donoghue after he missed all of this year’s National League campaign following surgery on his shoulder during the winter.
But it’s still unclear whether O’Donoghue will be fit to face Tyrone on 23 August.
“He’s done a good bit of one on one rehab work with the physios and he is back on the pitch running and kicking but he hasn’t done contact yet,” revealed Fitzmaurice last night when speaking at a press event in Killarney.
“This has happened to him in the past. It happened pre-Clare last year and he was able to get through the summer with it.
“I think a lot of the credit goes to our medical team and Eddie Harnett he got the shoulder back in on the pitch (against Kildare) and that was massive.
“If he hadn’t it probably would have been curtains for the rest of the season, that he got relocated so quickly it gave him a great chance.”
Fitzmaurice expressed his disappointment at the loss of Dingle attacker Geaney.
“Unfortunately this week we got news on Mikey Geaney and he has a back injury and he is out for the rest of the season.
“He is a big loss and an important guy to the squad, big character and a good player for us so it’s a disappointment for himself.
“It was the night before the Kildare game, he has back issues and he had a spasm and it deteriorated from there.
“He wasn’t able to come on against Kildare and we were hoping it would settle down but it has come at the wrong time and it means the season is over for him.
“Hopefully with the proper procedures he’ll be able to get back into harness for next season.”