Lohan out for vital Cork clash

BRIAN LOHAN will miss Clare’s crunch Allianz NHL Division 1A clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday. The full-back is getting married on Friday.

Also missing from Anthony Daly’s side will be Andrew Quinn and Conor Plunkett, both of whom recently underwent surgery for leg injuries.

However, captain Seanie McMahon, Colin Lynch, Niall Gilligan and Gerry Quinn are all expected to return to the side.

Kieran Murphy of Erins Own, will miss out for Cork after breaking a finger in last weekend’s victory over Wexford, while Joe Deane and Timmy McCarthy, forced to cry off prior to the Wexford game, are still on the treatment table.

The Newtownshandrum contingent resumed training last night but Ben O’Connor is rated doubtful due to an ankle injury

Meanwhile, Fintan Gould returns at full-forward to the Cork senior football team for their relegation battle with Monaghan at Castleblayney on Sunday with Nicholas Murphy switching to left half-forward to the exclusion of Kevin McMahon.

Both Anthony Lynch and Kieran O’Connor, who were forced to cry off before last Sunday’s defeat by Tyrone, are still on the injured list.

Eoin Lennon and Damien Freeman return from injury for Monaghan. The northerners need to win to retain top flight status while a draw may suffice for Cork, depending on the Offaly-Waterford result.

Meanwhile, Ciaran McDonald is in line to play his first game of the season for Mayo in Sunday’s crucial Allianz NFL tie at home to Tyrone. Mayo need to win to be sure of their place in the semi-finals, as do Mickey Harte’s side.

McDonald has not played for his county since the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry last summer but returned to the panel recently after months of speculation surrounding his future. Assistant manager John Morrison confirmed yesterday that he was in the reckoning for the last group game on Sunday.

Mayo’s chances will be further boosted by the availability of midfield pair David Brady and Ronan McGarrity while attacker Trevor Mortimer is also on the road to recovery after a recent injury .

The Ireland panel for the forthcoming Junior International Rules tour of Australia has been announced. Fifteen counties are represented with Cavan and Donegal each having three players on the 24-man panel.

The team will be captained by Cavan’s Ray Cullivan, a son of the former Cavan player of the same name while Shane O’Rourke (son of former Meath player Colm) and Paddy Andrews, brother of Dublin star Peadar, are also among those named.

The Ireland manager is Niall Moyna (Monaghan) and he will be joined by selectors Billy McNicholas (Mayo), John Mc Elroy (Fermanagh), Noel Mooney (Kildare) and John Landers (Limerick).

The team will play three games against Australia. The first test will take place in the MCG in Melbourne on Thursday, April 13, the second will be played in Football Park, Adelaide on Easter Sunday (April 16th) and the final test will be played the following Wednesday in Freemantle Oval, Perth (April 19).

* Tipperary will play Galway in Kilsheelan on Sunday at 3pm in a senior hurling challenge in aid of the local National School.

IRELAND: R Cullivan, P Brady, B Watters (all Cavan), G Brennan (Clare), C O’Driscoll (Cork), J O’Leary (Kerry), D Gallagher, M Murphy, E Wade (all Donegal), P Andrews, K Nolan (both Dublin), M Bradley, J Brown (both Kildare), R Ryan, S Shortall (both Laois), M Brady, D Mc Goldrick (both Longford), B Gibbons, P Hanley (both Mayo), S O Rourke (Meath), N Mc Adam (Monaghan), W Mulhall (Offaly), S Henry (Sligo), T Dunne (Tipperary).

CORK (SF v Monaghan): A. Quirke; M. Shields, G. Canty, M. Prout; N. O’Leary, G. Spillane, S. Levis; D. Kavanagh, D. Hurley; C. McCarthy, D. Niblock, N. Murphy; J. Masters, F. Gould, K. O’Sullivan.

DUBLIN (SF v Kerry): S Cluxton; N O’Shea, B Cahill, D Henry; P Casey, C Goggins, P Griffin; S Ryan, D Magee; D Lally, J Sherlock, B Cullen; A Brogan, C Keaney, M Vaughan.

TIPPERARY (SH v Galway): B. Cummins ; C. O’Mahoney, S. McDermott, P. Ormonde; B. Dunne, D. Fanning, H. Moloney; P. Kelly, J. Woodlock; J. O’Brien, J. Devane, C. Morrissey; E. Kelly, M. Webster, D. Egan.

MONAGHAN (SF v Cork): S. Duffy; C. Flanagan, J. Coyle, D. Morgan; K. Sheerin, V. Corey, D. McArdle; P. Finlay, E. Lennon; S. Gollogly, D. Freeman, D. Clerkin; T Freeman, R. Woods, P. McGuigan.