Peter Kelly will make his long-awaited return to full training with the Kildare footballers tonight.

The former All Star corner back missed the Lilywhites' entire Allianz League campaign as well as their impressive Leinster SFC quarter-final victory over Louth because of knee surgery. He did, however, make a late appearance as a substitute for his club Two-Mile-House in their All-Ireland club IFC final victory at Croke Park in February.

"Peter had different complications, but he's in really good form," Kildare manager Jason Ryan told the Irish Daily Star.

"At last there's a smile on his face because it's been fairly tough. He was only going in for a small operation to clean out his knee, and it ended up being more than what he originally thought.

"So please God, there's light at the end of the tunnel."

Another defender, Eoin Doyle, is also back to full fitness ahead of Sunday week's provincial semi-final against Meath, but the local derby clash could come too soon for Darrach Mulhall, who is recovering from an appendix operation. Tweet

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