Joe O’Connor was last night appointed Kerry skipper - despite not having started a game for the Kingdom yet.
The Austin Stacks midfield man, who is currently out with a knee injury, was nominated by his club - the county champions - to take over from last year’s captain, Paul Murphy.
Kerry and Kilkenny are the only remaining counties who allow their senior champions to select the county skipper.
Stacks other Kerry panellists are their own club captain, Dylan Casey, Greg Horan and Jack O’Shea.
O’Connor has his work cut out to force his way into the Kerry midfield with the likes of David Moran, Jack Barry, Diarmuid O’Connor, Adrian Spillane and the injured Stefan Okunbor also in contention.
O’Connor was in the Kerry squad last year, but saw limited action off the bench, although he did hit a goal in the league win over Roscommon, and came on in the six goal hammering of Tyrone.
Meanwhile Cork have named joint-captains for the season with Brian Hurley and Sean Meehan getting the nod from boss, Keith Ricken.
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