Rumour of Kennelly call-up is dismissed

Speculation that Tadhg Kennelly was about to receive a dramatic call-up to the Kerry senior football panel was dismissed by a…

Speculation that Tadhg Kennelly was about to receive a dramatic call-up to the Kerry senior football panel was dismissed by a number of sources in the county last night.

Having finished his Australian Rules season with the Sydney Swans earlier this month, Kennelly returned home last Thursday and was a notable presence in the Kerry under-21 team that fell to Galway in last Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final.

However, there is, according to one county spokesperson, no urgent basis or need for his call-up into the senior panel.

"The current squad are injury free and focused on their All-Ireland final with Armagh on Sunday week," said the spokesperson.

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Still only 20, Kennelly has been quick to make his mark in Australian Rules and was named the AFL rising star for one of the last rounds of the season.

He is also a nomination for AFL Young Player of the Year, which will be named in the next fortnight. Kennelly played for two years with the Kerry minors before moving to Australia.

Kennelly will remain home in Listowel for the next number of weeks and next month hopes to play another big part in Ireland's quest to regain the International Rules Series against Australia.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics