Kerry midfielder Sean O\u2019Brien is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines having suffered an ACL injury in Beaufort’s Kerry IFC match against Glenflesk on Saturday evening last.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beaufort were well on top approaching half-time when O\u2019Brien was seen to fall away from the play before he was taken from the pitch, appearing to be in severe discomfort.<\/p>\n
A visit to Santry early this week for a scan confirmed the worst fears, as he has done his cruciate and also sustained some cartilage damage.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien formed a crucial midfield partnership with Mark O\u2019Shea and that continued throughout 2026, though ultimately, Kerry lost the All-Ireland final to Mayo.<\/p>\n
He is the third Beaufort player to suffer a cruciate injury over the last 18 months with Sean Coffey – now back on the field – along with Kerry panellist Darragh Dennehy.<\/p>\n
He will be a huge loss to club and county, though Jack O\u2019Connor will have options when Barry Dan O’Sullivan returns, plus players like Charlie Keating, Evan Boyle and Daniel Kirby may well have to move up the pecking order.<\/p>\n
Kerry have now lost three players to the dreaded ACL injury in the last 18 months – the other two being the above-mentioned O’Sullivan, as well as Damien Bourke.<\/p>\n
However, after going under the knife in July, O’Sullivan made an appearance during the County League and returned to the Kerry squad late in this year\u2019s campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss Dingle\u2019s narrow loss to Rathmore in this year\u2019s Senior Club opener last Saturday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Kerry Chairman Patrick O\u2019Sullivan is to sit down with Jack O\u2019Connor to finalise the Kerry senior management for 2027 which will be ratified by clubs at next Tuesday\u2019s County Board meeting.<\/p>\n