McCarthy set to lead Kingdom in Munster final

DEFENDER Mike McCarthy is likely to captain Kerry for Sunday’s Munster SFC final in Killarney.

County champions Kerins O’Rahillys last night nominated the Kilcummin man to lead the side against Liam Kearns’ Limerick in the event that neither of their own representatives, Declan Quill or Mike Quirke, make the starting fifteen.

Quill has almost recovered from a thigh strain but despite starting against Tipperary in the provincial semi-final, may lose out in the competition for places in attack.

Though Quirke is in the frame to replace the doubtful Darragh Ó Sé, the selection of Eoin Brosnan, Donal Daly or Liam Hassett at midfield alongside Seamus Scanlon is more likely.

O’Rahillys defeated McCarthy’s Kilcummin in last year’s AIB county final, the primary factor in the Tralee club’s decision last night to nominate the corner back.

The move, taken at a meeting of the Kilcummin club executive, will also eliminate any unnecessary last-minute confusion over the Kerry captaincy.

The Kerry selectors will announce a starting fifteen tomorrow, but will leave a vacancy at centre-field, in the vain hope of Darragh Ó Sé being available.

The team management are desperate for the inspirational Gaeltacht man to start but face the prospect of being without their driving force for the rest of the year if the gamble backfires.

There are other more palatable dilemmas for the selectors, with 10 top forwards vying for six starting places.

If either Brosnan or Hassett is drafted into midfield, that would ease the logjam of options at half-forward.

However, established stars John Crowley, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Aodhan MacGearailt are sweating on the team announcement tomorrow, despite showing impressive form in training.

Sean O’Sullivan, Michael F Russell, and Colm Cooper will start, and it would be a brave move by the selectors to axe U21 star Declan O’Sullivan from the full forward line, despite his relative inexperience.

Marc Ó Sé has been pressing for inclusion in defence, where Seamus Moynihan looks certain to be named at full back.

Meanwhile, the quarter-final draw for the AIB Kerry Senior Football Championship was made last night with champions Kerins O’Rahillys paired with Mid Kerry.

If Laune Rangers overcome Shannon Rangers in a third round clash, they will meet West Kerry in the pick of the last eight ties.

Mike McCarthy’s Kilcummin will meet South Kerry, for whom Maurice Fitzgerald is still a pivotal figure, while the 2001 champions, An Ghaeltacht are paired with East Kerry.

The ties will be played on the weekend of August 8-10.