Double blow for Carbery

CHAMPIONS Carbery Rangers have a mini crisis ahead of Sunday's Munster Club IFC final against Pallasgreen at Fermoy (2pm).

Full-back Anthony Roche is out of the country while Seamus Hayes is ruled out with shin splints.

"Anthony's departure had been well signposted," said club official James Hubbert, "but now that is has happened he is going to be very difficult to replace. Seamus has not played since the county final and his replacement has done very well in the two Munster championship games since, but in a final you need all your best players if you are to succeed."

The Cork champions will create history if they defeat the Limerick representatives and become the first club to win back-to-back provincial titles. The chance has come about because Nemo Rangers, who won the Cork intermediate title in 2004, could not compete in Munster and Carbery as the defeated finalists were nominated to continue in the provincial championship and duly won it. They went on to win the All-Ireland title.

This year they won the Cork intermediate title, defeating Glanmire in the final, and Hubbert hopes they can make history at the weekend.

"Not many clubs will get that chance and we intend to give it our best shot. We hear the final will be played in Croke Park in February and that's a huge incentive for any team. It's where all footballers want to play."

Meanwhile, the Limerick side will give Wayne McCarthy every chance to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday's decider.

McCarthy has been struggling with a shoulder injury but is confident he will be fit for their first ever provincial decider. .

"Apart from Wayne, every other player is fully fit," said club secretary Ger O'Connell.

"It's hard to credit that just a week before Christmas we are contesting a Munster final. What a Christmas present it would make if we were to win it," he added. "While there is a great tradition of football in the club, it's a fantastic achievement for us to be contesting a Munster final. We have a very talented team built around a minor squad which won county honours in 2005.

"You often hear of teams who are contesting their first final, failing to perform on the big day. I can guarantee you we won't die on this occasion. They are a very committed bunch of players, full of running and can play a bit.

"Our path to the final has been paved with some very good results, particularly the semi-final win over Ring (Waterford). They had designs on winning the title, but in what was arguably our best display all season, we emerged victorious by two points in a great game of football.

"If we were to repeat that form I'm not saying it would be good enough to beat Carbery Rangers, but they would have to play extremely well to deny us."