All-clear for Clarke as Armagh unchanged
Clarke suffered bruising to his leg when he came in contact with an opponent’s studs during last weekend’s semi-final victory over Mayo. But he has been given the all-clear in what will be Armagh’s first league final appearance in 11 years.
On that occasion they lost to Meath and in fact the Orchard County have never succeeded in lifting the league title.
Current manager Joe Kernan played in two finals, 1983 and 1985 and was on the receiving end on both occasions.
Armagh lost to Derry in 1983 and two years later were pipped by Monaghan in the pennant decider.
Kilkenny, meanwhile, have deferred announcing their team to play Clare in the Allianz NHL final at Semple Stadium on Monday until tonight.
But manager Brian Cody has hinted strongly that both team captain Peter Barry and former Allstar Derek Lyng are set to return and will resume their respective positions at centre-back and midfield, respectively.
Barry, because of a groin strain, and Lyng with a knee injury, missed last weekend’s victory over Tipperary.
Galway boss Peter Ford faces an anxious wait on two key players ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland U21 semi-final against Cork in Limerick.
Midfielder Barry Cullinane and centre-forward Damien Dunleavy are doubts.
“We want to give them every chance to make it, so we are going to wait until tonight before selecting the side.
“Hopefully, they will be fit as both are key players,” said Ford.
The two impressed in the Connacht final when Galway hammered Ford’s native Mayo by 12 points at Pearse Stadium.
A number of Sligo players are in a race against time to be fit to face Leitrim in the Connacht SFC at Carrick-on-Shannon in three weeks time.
Defenders Brendan Phillips (ankle) and Nigel Clancy (shoulder) missed challenge games against Dublin and Westmeath.
Top scorer Dessie Sloyan underwent surgery for a groin injury last week but the Easkey club man will not resume training for at least three weeks.
Midfielder Eamon O’Hara has resumed light training after an ankle injury while Dara McGarty is receiving treatment for a hamstring injury.
St. Mary’s goalkeeper David Morrissey has joined the senior panel and made his debut against Westmeath last week.
lKildare are taking a very serious approach to their challenge game against All-Ireland football champions Kerry in Naas tomorrow, according to star defender Glenn Ryan.
“The championship starts for us on Saturday. The game against Kerry will be our final run out before the first round of the Leinster championship - against Wicklow on May 15,’’ he comments.
“Any time you get to play Kerry is good. But we are delighted to get this calibre of game against the All Ireland champions so close to our championship,’’ he added.
The occasion will be the opening of the Naas GAA club’s €4m. redevelopment of their new ground, by EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy. Kildare and Kerry will meet at 7 p.m. and Kildare hurlers will be in action in a curtain-raiser (at 3.45) against Wexford.
lFormer Galway hurling board secretary Phelim Murphy has lambasted Ger Loughnane for reopening the 1998 Clare-Offaly saga when referee Jimmy Cooney ended the match prematurely.
Murphy was a member of the GAC at the time of the incident seven years ago and said: “It is a shame that this matter is being brought up again. I don’t know what Ger Loughnane is at, but it is most unfair to Jimmy Cooney and his family.
Jimmy Cooney made a genuine mistake that day, everyone recognised it at the time. He did nothing wrong, it was just a mistake and it was dealt with at the time.
“To come out now and start suggesting all sorts of things is unfair to Jimmy Cooney and his family, and to all the people who investigated it. I was on the GAC at the time and know just how much that incident was scrutinised. It was fairly extensive.
“A decision was made to replay the match, Offaly won it and went on to win the All-Ireland.
“If somebody had something to say then that was the time to say it. Believe me, people had plenty to say then.
“It went on for a long time but, like everything else, it died down and I think everyone presumed that was the end of it.
“I think it is a shame it is being brought up again, especially in this manner,” said Murphy.
: P.Hearty; P. McCormack, F. Bellew, A. Molloy; A. Kernan, K. McGeeney, C. McKeever; J. Toal, P. McGrane; M. O’Rourke, J. McEntee, O. McConville; S. McDonnell, R. Clarke, B. Mallon.
: K. Stephenson; B. McGoldrick, L. Hinphey, G. Brunton; C. Brunton, M. Conway, P. O’Kane; Gary Biggs, Gregory Biggs; K. Hinphey, R. Kennedy, R. Convery; S. McBride, G. McGonigle, P. Hearty.
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