Fitzmaurice and O’Neill miss league semis over bans

TYRONE footballer Stephen O’Neill and Kerry’s Eamon Fitzmaurice will each miss Sunday week’s Allianz National Football League semi-finals.

This is as a result of receiving four-week suspensions from the Games Administration Committee following their dismissals in last Sunday’s game in Omagh.

Down footballer Brendan Coulter and Wicklow’s Adrian Foley also received four-week suspensions arising from incidents in their League games against Louth and Derry respectively. Carlow hurler James Hickey and

Meanwhile Former All Star Ken McGrath will start his first game in the National Hurling League on Sunday when Waterford host Limerick at Walsh Park in what could be a make or break game as far as the rival counties hopes of reaching the league decider are concerned.

McGrath resumed training just two weeks ago after a lengthy lay off through injury, and while his return to full fitness will be a major boost to the Decies his inclusion from the start against the Shannonsiders will be seen by many as something of a gamble.

McGrath is named at left half forward with his Mount Sion clubmate Eoin Kelly leading the attack on the forty.

Kelly had been out of favour with the selectors for a number of games but made a successful return last weekend in a challenge, ironically against Limerick, when he emerged as the side’s top scorer with an impressive tally of 2-10.

Also returning after injury is Ardmore clubman Seamas Prendergast who is named at right full forward alongside Paul Flynn and John Mullane in a line that bristles with potential.

Elsewhere however some of the selectorial choices will raise many eyebrows. None more so than the switching of Michael Walsh from midfield to left half back and the placing of Liam Lawlor at right fullback to the exclusion of Declan Prendergast.

David O’Brien is named in the other corner with the experienced Tom Feeney, now playing his club hurling in Cork with Sarsfields, on the fringe of the square, while Stephen Brenner again gets the goalkeeping nod over Ian O’Regan.

Dave Bennett has a new midfield partner in Andy Moloney who has also be en sidelined for most of the league campaign through injury Eoin McGrath, Eoin Murphy, Sean Ryan and Denis Coffey are all on the injured list and weren’t considered for selection although the latter duo are named among the substitutes.

Clare hurlers welcome back Brian Lohan and Jamesie O’Connor for their first starts in the current Allianz National Hurling League against Tipperary in Cusack Park on Sunday.

Omitted are Sean McMahon, David Hoey and Tony Griffin, who are suffering from injuries.

Conor Plunkett plays at centre-back, Colin Lynch is again retained at centre-forward and Frank Lohan at full-forward.

Meanwhile, the referees for the four League semi-finals were announced yesterday. Michael Monahan of Kildare will take charge of the Tyrone/Galway game in Clones, with John Geaney of Cork appointed for the game between Kerry and Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

The Division Two semi-final between Donegal and Down will be refereed by Tyrone’s Michael Hughes while Mayo’s Michael Daly will take charge of the Offaly/Kildare game.

WATERFORD (SH v Limerick): S. Brenner; L. Lawlor. T. Feeney. D. O’Brien; J. Murray. T. Browne. M.Walsh; D. Bennett. A. Moloney; D. Shanahan. E. Kelly. K. McGrath; S. Prendergast. P. Flynn. J. Mullane; Subs; I. O’Regan, D. Prendergast, J. Kennedy, P. O’Brien,D. Coffey, B. Phelan, S. O’Sullivan, A. Kirwan, S. Ryan, J. Wall, J. Hurney, G. Quinlan.

CLARE: G. O’Connell; C. Harrison, B. Lohan, C. Forde; B. Lynch, C. Plunkett, G. Quinn; O. Baker, D. McMahon; A. Markham, C. Lynch, J. O’Connor; N. Gilligan, F. Lohan, D. Forde.