Cast off, but Kelly faces fitness battle

ALTHOUGH the cast protecting Graham Kelly’s broken bone in his arm was removed on Tuesday, the Miltown Malbay footballers participation in the Munster final on July 8 against Cork in Limerick is in serious doubt.
He sustained the injury, training at the Gaelic Grounds, on the Monday evening before Clare played Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
“The cast came off on Tuesday but it will be a race against time for him to be right for the Munster final,” Clare manager Micheál McDermott told The Clare Champion on Wednesday.
“But knowing Graham he’s going to do everything in his power to come right. He’s doing all the physical training but as regards handling ball, we won’t know for a fortnight if he can go into contact. We’re just not sure. It all depends on how the recovery process goes for the next two weeks,” McDermott added.
Graham’s brother, Gordon, sat out training this week, although Conor Talty is likely to return to the training field in the coming days.
“Gordon has a touch of hamstring problem. He’s not going to train this week at all but he should be ok next week. He has a little bit of tightness. Conor Talty is probably back training at the weekend. His back should be ok. Apart from that, everyone else is ok,” McDermott said.
He was particularly happy with Clare’s first half display against Galway in their challenge in Cusack Park on Tuesday evening.
“We played very well in the first half in particular when we were at full-strength and they were at full-strength. The three goals alone were worth the entry fee. Rory Donnelly was in top form. He roasted the two corner-backs that were put on him. Neither of them could handle him,” McDermott noted.
The Munster final will have a 2pm throw-in on Sunday fortnight.