Kerry to monitor Fitzgerald injury

Eamonn Fitzmaurice says Kerry's medical team will monitor Fionn Fitzgerald after "a heavy bang to the head" in Sunday's Munster final.

Kerry's joint-captain was stretchered off during their 1-23 to 0-15 Munster SFC final victory at Fitzgerald Stadium following an accidental clash of heads, but recovered in time to lift the trophy with Johnny Buckley.

The Dr Crokes' clubman has three weeks to recover before Kerry's next game, the All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park on the weekend of 29/30 July, and Kerry manager Fitzmaurice says the 27-year-old will be checked for a possible concussion in the interim.

"Initially, there were fears for his jaw, but I'd say he's concussed," he said.

"He was bleeding from the nose as well. I think it was one of our fellas he collided with. 

"Thankfully he's back to himself but we'll have to look after him for the next few weeks.

"We are delighted to have won and delighted to be heading to Croke Park as Munster champions.

"We won well but at the same time we have plenty to work on, as we didn't close the game out great after Fionn's injury."

Fitzmaurice, who has not lost a match in the Munster Championship since replacing Jack O'Connor as boss in 2012, says James O'Donoghue could be the Kingdom's key player as they seek to add another All-Ireland title to their record tally of 37.  

The Killarney Legion clubman missed Kerry's National League final win over Dublin in April because of a calf injury but kicked 0-9 in their Munster semi-final win over Clare, and followed up with seven points against Cork.

"He is huge for us," Fitzmaurice continued.

"He is huge for any team when he is on top of his game. He has been unlucky with injuries for the past couple of years [O'Donoghue had a major shoulder operation in December 2015] whereas he hasn't this season. 

"OK, the second half of his league was interrupted, but he had a lot of work done and is in great physical shape.

"When his body is good, the football takes care of itself. He has been showing that for the last couple of games. We need him to keep going that way and to go up another level or two if he can."

Image: Inpho/Cathal Noonan

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