Kerry may opt for defensive changes

KERRY could make a change to their defensive line-up when they name their side to face Tyrone in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final after training in Fitzgerald Stadium tonight.

Marc Ó Sé was withdrawn early in the quarter-final game against Roscommon (replaced by John Sheehan) and he could be under pressure to hold on to his position.

More interesting, however, will be the shape of the full-back line, given the concern over a lack of stability, reflected in the manner in which Roscommon scored two late goals in that game.

The indications are that Seamus Moynihan will be picked at full-back, although in training it’s reported that he has been playing something of a ‘sweeper’ role in front of Tom O’Sullivan and team captain Michael McCarthy. This would be seen as a way of countering the Tyrone strategy of operating with Peter Canavan and Eoin Mulligan inside.

There had been some concern about the fitness of Seamus Scanlon who was one of four seniors on the U-21 team which defeated Tipperary last week in the Munster semi-final.

The Currow man was substituted in the second half of that game with a damaged thumb but he has fully recovered. Darragh Ó Sé who played in the quarter-final against Roscommon and showed no ill-effects from the ankle injury which threatened to keep him out of that game, is also fully fit.

He tired during the second half against Roscommon and was substituted, understandably so, as the injury had kept him out of action for three weeks. Ó Sé and Scanlon are expected to form the midfield partnership for Sunday’s clash with Tyrone who have a win over Kerry already this season, in the league in Killarney.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte reports a clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Colm Holmes and Chris Lawn have both recovered from injury leaving Harte with a difficult selection call to make at full back, where Cormac McAnallen has been a revelation since his switch from midfield.

An additional defensive option is also available, with centre back Gavin Devlin having completed a 12 week suspension, imposed following an incident in the National League final.

The only player unavailable for the Croke Park shoot-out is Ryan Mellon, still recovering from a virus which brought a promising season to a sudden halt three months ago.

Laois and Kerry report no injuries ahead of their All-Ireland MFC semi-final which is the curtain-raiser to the senior game on Sunday. The counties last met at this level in 1998 with victory going to the O’Moore County.

The Cork team play Galway in the All-Ireland IHC semi-final tomorrow night in Thurles, showing one change from that which defeated Waterford in the recent Munster final.

David Moher who came on as a substitute for Vincent Morrissey in that game, holds his place at right corner forward. The team is notable for the inclusion of four members of the senior squad on the starting 15.

Meanwhile, 11 members of the Cork senior hurling team return to club activity next weekend with four hurling and one football championship quarter-finals to be decided.

This will mean their third competitive match on the trot.

Fermoy hosts a very attractive double header. Cloyne and Avondhu get proceedings under way at 2pm with Imokilly and Newtownshandrum to follow at 3.30pm.

Defending champions Blackrock take on Midleton at Pairc Uí Caoimh later in the evening at 7pm while the Sarsfields/Erins Own replay is fixed for Sunday at the same venue with a 7pm throw in.

The football tie is between Na Piarsaigh and Dohenys which is fixed for Bandon on Saturday at 7pm.

At a recent county board meeting, secretary Frank Murphy told delegates that in the event of Cork qualifying for the All-Ireland final, the selectors would be given three clear weeks to prepare.

However with so many players involved, the county selectors are concerned about all these games going ahead and have made representations to have them deferred. That decision should be made at tonight’s county board meeting.

CORK (IH v Galway): M. Coleman (Ballinhassig); M. Prout (Shamrocks), J. O’Brien (Milford), B. Murphy (Bride Rovers); J. Hayes (Blarney), B. Lombard (Ballinhassig, capt.), K. Hartnett (Russell Rovers); A. O’Connor (Rathluirc), J. Barrett (Carrigtwohill); J. O’Callaghan (Castletownroche), B. Coleman (Youghal), S. Hayes (Courcey Rovers); D. Moher (Ballygiblin), D. O’Riordan (Inniscarra), J. Quinlan (Rathluirc); Subs. A. Nash (Kanturk), R. O’Dwyer (Ballymartle), D. Lynch (Ballygiblin), D. Fitzgerald (Rathluirc), V. Morrissey (Aghada), O. Conway (Fr. O’Neills), J. Murphy (C. Rovers), M. Daly (Cobh), D. McNamara (Kilworth).