Corkery winning battle for fitness
The Nemo captain limped out of the semi-final win over Kerins O'Rahilly's a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury and it was feared he would miss the chance to lead his side to their third provincial title in a row.
Team coach Billy Morgan said his captain was back in light training and making steady progress. "I would be very hopeful Colin will be fit to play," he added.
"The news on Derek Kavanagh is not as good. It was feared he had broken a bone in his foot during the semi-final against the Kerry champions, but that has been dispelled following X-rays. However, the ankle is still very sore and at the moment he has less than a 50/50 chance of making it. Seán O'Brien is also causing us some concern. Like Corkery, he is suffering from a hamstring problem, and it will be later in the week before we know exactly how he is fixed."
Unlike their opponents, Monaleen have no injury worries after a weekend where Eoin Keating played soccer with Limerick FC and Kieran O'Boyle was on rugby duty with Ireland cross-channel.
They are also boosted by the return of Alan McEntee. He missed out on the semi-final win over Clonmel Commercials after receiving a dead leg in the quarter-final against Stradbally.
"Alan's availability is a big boost to us," said team coach Ger Lawlor, "but we'll need him and a couple more if we are to win this one. This will be the biggest game we've played in since I became involved.
"Monaleen have made great strides particularly in recent years, which is all the more meritorious given that Gaelic Games would be a very poor second in the Limerick city. "I would regard Nemo as the best club team in the last 10 years and every one of our players is looking forward to testing themselves against them.
"If we are to have any chance we'll have to settle into the game very early, get a few scores on the board and in that way hope to upset Nemo's fluency.
"We have been very wasteful in all our matches this year, but have been worked hard on that aspect of our game. Hopefully, if we do get the chances on Sunday we'll put them away.
"Certainly Nemo won't concede too many scores, so every chance we create we make the most of them, otherwise it could be curtains for us. "Our team is very young with seven under 21s on the first 15. They have done all we've asked of them so far, but this is the acid test. They don't come any bigger than Nemo Rangers".
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
