Kieran Donaghy believes Kerry can overcome the loss of their key players from last year to propel themselves on the All-Ireland SFC stage this summer.

The Kingdom have lost Tommy Walsh and Tadhg Kennelly to the AFL along with Darragh Ó Sé, Sean O'Sullivan, Diarmuid Murphy and possibly Mike McCarthy to retirement from last year's Sam Maguire triumph and the former 'Footballer of the Year' feels they are now well-placed to overcome the losses.

"There is great experience there and lads will be getting more experience as the league goes on, so with Tomás (Ó Sé) and Paul (Galvin) to come back in as well I would not exactly say that we are in dire straits," said Donaghy.

"We are trying to come to terms with the loss of so many quality players and it's tough early days, but I'd be hoping that, come the championship, we'll be adjusted to life without the lads and ready for battle."

Colm Cooper and Tom O'Sullivan both returned in Jack O'Connor's team's win over Derry at the weekend and Donaghy has backed another returnee in David Moran to shine in his new role at centre-forward come this summer.

"It is going to take him a few weeks to get used to playing that role of being the provider," said the Austin Stacks man.

"He has been used playing around midfield so this new role on 'the 40' is tough to get used to. But he has been working really hard in training and you would be looking towards the summer and hoping that he would have that role perfected." Tweet

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