Gormley makes timely return as Harte plots Nemo downfall
Team boss Nicky Harte said their captain will start, despite the fact that he hasn’t finished a game all season because of injury. Harte will also have Pascal Canavan and Adrian O’Donnell available as he plots the downfall of the Munster champions.
Canavan hasn’t played since he broke his jaw against Enniskillen Gaels while O’Donnell has been out for the last month through suspension.
This will be the first meeting between the clubs since 1993 when Nemo were successful in extra time in Newbridge and went on to win the All-Ireland title.
“They don’t come any bigger than Nemo Rangers”, said Harte whose team will include seven inter-county players in Conor McGinley, Peter Loughren, Enda McGinley, Mark Harte, John Devine, Peter Canavan and Paul Horisk.
“The minute you beat a good team there is another waiting for you. That’s the case for us here. We beat the defending champions Ballinderry in the Ulster semi-final before going to three games to get the better of Crossmaglen in the final.
The Cork and Munster champions go into Sunday’s game injury free, and desperately keen to make it back to what would be a third final in a row.
“We have every incentive”, said Team coach Billy Morgan. “To date we have created records by winning won three county and Munster titles in a row, but the big one has eluded us.
“When you consider that Ballinderry beat us by six points in last year’s final and Errigal Ciaran beat them in this year’s Ulster championship by seven points, pundits will say Ciarans are 13 points a better team than we are.
“I certainly wouldn’t subscribe to that view. They are a very good side, but so are we. It’s been 10 years since we last won the All-Ireland, and we don’t want to be remembered for losing three in a row.
“They have come through a tougher campaign than we have and deserve to be favourites, but we are as ready as we’ll ever be for this one, and if they do beat us, they’ll have earned it”.
Dunshauglin who play Crossmolina in the other semi-final are competing at this level for the first time, but are concerned about the fitness of Denis Kealy and Martin Reilly. Kealy damaged shoulder ligaments in a recent challenge game while Reilly injured his leg last Sunday in training.
According to team coach Eamon Barry, its touch and go, but both players should make it. “We’ll need everyone for this game. It’s a first for us and we are up against a side who have been through it all before when they won the title two seasons ago”.
Liam Moffatt remains Crossmolina’s chief injury worry.
Manager John Maughan has delayed naming his side to allow Moffatt the maximum amount of time to prove his fitness.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
