Injuries easing, but Donegal won’t risk Michael Murphy

Donegal manager Declan Bonner says he will take the recovery of his captain Michael Murphy on a week-by-week basis.

Murphy won’t be in the Donegal squad for Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 game against Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

The Glenswilly man limped out of Sunday-week past’s win over Kildare in Ballybofey.

“We’ll just be careful with Michael,” Bonner told Donegal Live.

“We’ll work him back, but we won’t rush him back.

“We’ll take it week-on-week and see where he’s at. We hope to get him back at some stage by the end of the League, but we’ll get a bit of work done in the meantime.”

LAST SIX KERRY MEETINGS: How have Donegal fared in recent meetings with Kerry?

Donegal, who play Kerry this weekend,  have had just one success against Kerry in their last six league meetings. Four of those games have been away and two at home. Here are the results, teams and scorers from those games

Jason McGee, who was also forced off against Kildare, is available again for the trip to Kerry. The Cloughaneely man has recovered from the knock that ended his last game prematurely.

Vice captain Hugh McFadden and Daire Ó Baoill are likely be included in a match day panel for the first time in 2022.

Ciarán Thompson will also be in the squad having shaken off an injury.

While Jamie Brennan is said to be ‘a few weeks away’, Bonner has reported that Oisin Gallen ‘isn’t too far off’.

“There are always ups and downs with injuries, but we’re glad to see lads coming back again.” Bonner said. “That’s the nature of having a lot of games in a condensed period and training on heavy pitches.”

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Kerry disposed of Dublin 1-15 to 0-11 in their last outing. A Dara Moynihan goal had the Kingdom 1-14 to 0-4 in front at half-time on a night when their dominance was evident.

“We’re not just going down to see Killarney at the weekend,” Bonner said. “We know Killarney is a difficult place to go, but we’re going to try and get points.

“Kerry won the McGrath Cup and beat every team out of sight. They were very impressive in the second period of the first half against Dublin.

“It won’t be easy, taking on Kerry in their own backyard. Kerry are one of the top teams in the country. It’s a difficult task, but you have to look forward to games like this and what better an opportunity for lads to show what they’re capable of.”