Cooper facing spell on the sidelines
Colm Cooper will be absent for most of Kerry’s 2012 Allianz Football League campaign after going under the knife to clear a long-standing ankle problem.
The Gooch is delaying the operation until after Dr Crokes' club campaign but will face a three-month spell on the sidelines after the surgery. He has been troubled by an ankle injury since the All-Ireland decider and Sunday’s Kerry final was the first time he felt 100%.
"Sunday was the first day it felt good again. I knew last Tuesday night that it was back 100% again. It’s been pretty taped up for the last few games and I was just getting by really," he said.
"I wasn’t right. In fairness you’d Kieran [O’Leary], Daithí [Casey], Brian Looney and other guys stepping up then in attack. The break since the semi-final helped myself, as well as the rest of the team. Getting the week off helped freshen our minds, especially the two UCC boys as they really needed that. We looked fresh in the first half."
Following the disappointment in September when Cooper’s ambition to lift Sam Maguire as Kerry captain was thwarted by Dublin, the club scene has proved a welcome sanctuary.
"I’ve always said the tonic after an All-Ireland final, particularly when you lose one, is to get back amongst your own in the club.
"To get back in those circles where you’re most familiar with and the guys you’ve grown up with and you socialise with. You’re at ease then. We’re very lucky that we’ve a talented bunch and we’re back competing in county finals."
