Double blow for Cats after league games
In one match, current captain, DJ Carey hobbled off injured and, in the other, skipper last season Andy Comerford was red carded.
Carey picked up his injury early and played little part, as his team Young
Ireland’s (Gowran) beat Shamrocks by 3-12 to 1-16.
In the second semi-final, Graigue-Ballygallan beat O’Loughlin-Gaels by 1-12 to 0-11.
Comerford received his marching orders with only minutes remaining.
It is known that Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody was keeping a close eye on Comerford’s form. The player was not part of the squad for the Leinster final but, if his fitness improved, he would have been in the shake-up for the All-Ireland semi-final (August 17).
Meanwhile, Michael Cordial has been passed fit to play and will take his place at midfield on the Offaly team to play Tipperary in next Sunday’s Guinness All-Ireland SHC quarter final against Tipperary at Croke Park.
Cordial was forced to retire at half-time in last week’s brilliant triumph over Limerick in the qualifier at Semple Stadium, Thurles, after aggravating a knee injury.
His replacement Conor Gath proceeded to score two points but, with Cordial back in the frame, Gath is being held in reserve.
Stylish corner-forward Brian Carroll, who suffered a dead leg during the win over Limerick, has fully recovered and will don the number 13 shirt.
O ffaly, however, have left a vacancy at right half-forward. Neville Coughlan, who started in that position against Limerick, but was later replaced by Sean Browne, is understood to have lost favour with the selectors.
Also, the Offaly selectors have made one positional change. Brendan Murphy, scorer of the all-important goal against Limerick, is switched from left half-forward to left corner-forward with Rory Gantley starting on the left wing on this occasion.
Antrim manager Dinny Cahill said yesterday that his side would have absolutely no excuses to offer should they lose to Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter final, also at Croke Park on Sunday.
“We have had six clear weeks without any injury problems to prepare for this game and, as a result, all the boys are in tip-top condition. Of course, we know what to expect from a very physically strong Wexford side. But a number of their players are now over the 30-years mark and it is my hope that our lads will use the wide-open spaces of Croke Park to run the legs off them,” said Cahill.
The former Tipperary player also believes that another plus in Antrim’s favour of causing a major upset lies in the fact that they are determined to make up for last season’s quarter-final defeat by his home county.
“No way were Tipperary 10-points a better team than us on that occasion. There was only three points in it after 67-minutes of play, but we conceded an easy goal and the world caved in around us after that. Ever since that game, we have been anxious to get back to Croke Park and to show what we are really capable of.”
“Now, the moment of truth has arrived and it is up to the players to prove that they are no flash-in-the-pan,” said Cahill, after naming an unchanged team.
OFFALY (SH v Tipperary): B. Mullins; N. Claffey, G. Oakley, D. Franks; J. Brady, B. Whelahan, C. Cassidy; M. Cordial, B. Whelehan; A. N. Other, G. Hanniffy, R. Hanniffy; B. Carroll, J. Errity, B. Murphy.
ANTRIM (SH v Wexford): D.D. Quinn; M. Kettle, K. Kelly, J. Campbell, K. McKeegan, C. Herron; C. Cunning, J. Connolly; P. Richmond, C. McGuckian, L. Richmond; I. Watson, G. O’Kane, B. McFall.
