Ballygunner likely to be unchanged for clash with Clarecastle

BALLYGUNNER have an injury-free squad to choose from as they wind down their preparations for Sunday’s Munster Club hurling semi-final with Clarecastle at Walsh Park.

The team will be named tomorrow night and the general expectation is that there will few, if any, changes from the side which started in the first round against Garryspillane.

Exciting corner-forward Tommy Power shipped a knock in that game that necessitated his substitution late on but he has made a full recovery and is certain to line out against the Clare champions.

Second-half substitute Darragh O’Sullivan also sustained a facial injury that needed a number of stitches but he too is fit.

First round matchwinner Paul Flynn, who helped himself to two vital first-half goals and ended the game with a tally of 2-4, spent last week on a golfing holiday in the Algarve with goalkeeper Pat Haran. Both players delayed their departure by 48 hours so as to line out against Garryspillane and, having returned home late last Saturday night, were among the first on the training ground in Ballygunner on Sunday morning.

“That’s what club loyalty and commitment is all about,” said Paul Foley, a key member of the Gunners attack on Sunday. “We probably wouldn’t have beaten Garryspillane without them and there they were back in training on Sunday morning not many hours after flying back from Portugal.”

Ballygunner veteran Billy O’Sullivan was replaced in the closing quarter of the Garryspillane game but his vast experience will almost certainly be enough to earn the 38 year-old his starting place on Sunday.

Paul Foley rubbishes suggestions that the Gunners will go into the game as firm favourites following the victory over the Limerick champions at the Gaelic Grounds. “Our record against Clare opposition at this level is very poor,” said Foley “and however beneficial the Garryspillane game has been for us there are no grounds for making us favourites to keep the winning run going.

“Clarecastle proved their mettle in their own final against a powerful Wolfe Tones combination, and we’ll be very happy indeed to come away with a one point win on Sunday.”

Foley will be one of nine players who featured on the Gunners’ only Munster championship winning side in 2001.

The other eight survivors from four years ago (they beat Toomevara in the semi-final and Blackrock in the final) are defenders Niall O’Donnell, Alan Kirwan, Rory O’Sullivan and Fergal Hartley, midfielder Colin Kehoe (he was at wing-back in 2001) and forwards Paul Flynn, Billy O’Sullivan, and the current captain Andy Moloney.

Darragh O’Sullivan, who lined out at corner-forward against the Rockies, is now among the Ballygunner substitutes, along with his younger brother Patrick, the sub goalkeeper.

In all there are five O’Sullivan brothers involved on Sunday.

Stephen Frampton and Mick Mahony, who lined out at right half-back and right half-forward, respectively, in that 2001 decider, are current selectors.