Kerry dual star Luke Crowley faced an unfortunate fixture clash next Sunday. Photo: Sportsfile
Kerry dual star Luke Crowley looks set to play in Sunday’s All-Ireland U-20 FC final at the expense of lining out with the county’s senior hurlers in a big Joe McDonagh Cup the same day.
Crowley had been left in limbo with Tomás Ó Sé’s Kerry U-20 footballers playing Tyrone in the All-Ireland decider in Portlaoise at 1.0 on Sunday, while Stephen Molumphy’s senior hurlers throw in at the same time against Offaly in Tullamore’s O’Connor Park.
Crowley (19) has clocked up an incredible seven championship games since April 10 (four football and three hurling) but the Glenflesk flyer was left in a no-win situation by the GAA fixture-makers.
However, Ó Sé indicated last night that Crowley would play with the U-20 footballers. “He’s a serious player and in fairness to the lad he wanted to play both.
“I thought it was impossible, but in fairness to [hurling manager] Stephen Molumphy, he was very easy to work with, very fair, very reasonable and this was the only time that it actually clashed. So we minded him in between games and we’re hoping that he’ll be good for Sunday for us. Hopefully he’ll deal with all that comes with it,” said Ó Sé.
Earlier, Kerry senior hurling coach Pat Bennett told the Irish Independent that a decision was imminent. “Luke said Sunday at our training that he’d decide Wednesday (today). He’s a great guy.
“We told him if he decided to go back to the U-20 that it was no bother and he could come back in with us for the Meath game (final round-robin fixture). It’s not a nice situation for a young lad to be put in.”
Officials in the Kingdom are staying tight-lipped on the issue but are believed to be unhappy that the youngster has been left in a no-win situation after fixture-makers chose not to apply any flexibility around the two Kerry games due to the restrictions of the current calendar.
