Kerry hurlers will travel to face Cork as part of double-header

MUNSTER Council secretary Simon Moroney has confirmed that Kerry will play Cork in the provincial SHC on May 16 in Pairc Uí Chaoimh as part of a double-header with the SFC game between Limerick and Tipperary.

There had been some speculation that Kerry would withdraw unless Cork agreed to travel but wiser counsel has prevailed and the match goes on in Cork with a 1.45 pm. start. Clare play Waterford in the SHC in Thurles the same day at 3.30 p.m.

As a result of the two games in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, the JFC game between Limerick and Tipperary has been transferred to Pairc Ui Rinn, noon throw-in.

Meanwhile Gerry O’Connor’s injury picked up while playing with Newtown in the county hurling championship on Monday is not as bad as first suspected. Coach Ger Cunningham said he expects the player to be fit for the championship game against Kerry on May 16.

“At first we thought he had pulled his hamstring again which would have been very serious, but thankfully he went over on the ankle and we took him off as a precaution”, said Ger.

The news on Pat Mulcahy is equally encouraging. Forced to sit out Monday’s night defeat by Cork IT because of a broken wrist sustained in a recent car accident, he expects to have the plaster off in two weeks time.

“I broke the wrist in four places, but it’s healing well and I’m hoping to have the plaster off in the next fortnight,” said Pat.

Meanwhile, the Waterford team to play Clare in the losers group final of the Munster MFC at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, tonight shows one personal and several positional changes from the side routed by Cork in the first round.

Ballinacourty’s Peter Phelan is introduced at midfield, with Dungarvan clubman John O’Keeffe the one to lose out in a much reshuffled attack.

The winners play Cork in the Munster semi-final while Kerry will play Tipperary in the other. Both games are down for decision on July 3.

The St. Finbarrs/Clyda Rovers county SFC second round game has been brought forward to Friday night next in Donoughmore (7.30 p.m.) to facilitate the Cork senior hurlers who are expected to be meeting Limerick in the Munster SHC semi-final on May 30 at the Gaelic Grounds.

The replay of the county IHC between Carrigaline and Glen Rovers has also been refixed for Friday night at Minane Bridge (7.30 p.m.).

WATERFORD (MF v Clare): D. Dennisson (De La Salle); C. Hayes (Kilrossanty). K. McBride (De La Salle). K. Dunne (Clashmore); T. Grey (De La Salle). S. Prendergast (Kilrossanty). J. Seward (Clashmore); P. Phelan (Ballinacourty). M. Ó Toibín (Gaeltacht); M. Fives (Ballinacourty). I. Cantwell (De La Salle). P. Hurney (Ballinacourty); D. Allen (Clashmore). C. McDonald (Gaultier). K. O'Keeffe (Clashmore).

CLARE (MFC v Waterford): C. O’Loughlin (St. Josephs Milltown Malbay); F. Lellis (Cooraclare), C. Howley (St. Brackans), T. McMahon (Clarecastle); S. O’Connor (St. Brackans), N. Moroney (Kilmurry Ibrickane), M. McMahon (do.); K. King (do.), C. Dillon (Doonbeg); E. Troy (O’Currys), S. Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), M. O’Connell (Wolfe Tones); N. Downes (Kilmurry Ibrickane), C. Lyons (Kilrush Shamrocks), D. Tubridy (Doonbeg).