Colm Cooper says he does not deserve a medal for Kerry's latest All-Ireland SFC success.

Cooper togged out for the Kingdom in last month's final victory over Donegal but failed to see any action, still side-lined from the cruciate injury which he sustained back in February, and the Dr Crokes clubman feels that he doesn't deserve another Celtic Cross despite donning the No. 28 jersey on the day.

"I wouldn't be looking for one anyway. I don't feel I deserve one, no, no," said Cooper, speaking to the media at a Lucozade Sport-sponsored event on Monday.

"There are plenty of other guys who deserve them, I didn't kick a ball all year. While being part of it is great, I wouldn't think I deserve a medal."

Cooper's fitness was a major talking-point in the build-up to last month's final at Croke Park, but, realistically, he felt he was never an option for manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice against the Ulster champions.

"In the bigger scheme of things it was never going to happen. I was joining in training and some drills. But in terms of full contact and that, I was never really going at that pitch," said Cooper.

"In terms of when Éamonn sat down to pick the team, I was never going to be in that mix. It was only seven months since the operation. I was never going to play."

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