Corcoran all clear for Tipp

TIPPERARY’S Allstar defender Eamon Corcoran will be eligible to play in the Guinness All-Ireland hurling qualifier game against Galway on Sunday at Pearse Stadium.

The Games Administration Committee had been asked by Premier officials to fix the game for Sunday to facilitate Corcoran, whose controversial three-month suspension, ironically imposed by the GAC, ends at midnight on Saturday.

GAA bosses looked favourably on the request after the draws which pits Limerick against Offaly and Waterford against Wexford were made at Croke Park yesterday.

Corcoran was banned for 12 weeks following his sending off in the National League match against Galway at Pearse Stadium. Though the Galway forward Kenneth Burke came to the defence of the JK Brackens clubman, the GAC insisted he serve a ban starting from the date of that match, April 20. He has since missed Tipperary's Munster SHC defeat to Clare and their qualifier win over Laois.

Within Tipperary there have been strong feelings expressed about what was regarded at county board level as an unjust suspension and an official appeal came within one vote of being overturned by the Central Council. But Corcoran is now glad to put the nightmare behind him.

"I was sweating on it for the last week and I am just glad I am back in the frame now," Corcoran said. "I don't mind if I am picked or not. Just the fact I'm back makes me delighted. I didn't think I'd be back but it's great to be available at least."

Limerick and Offaly last clashed in the 1994 All-Ireland final when the Eamonn Cregan-managed

Offaly side won in sensational fashion. The meeting of Waterford and Wexford will be their first in the senior championship. Waterford manager Justin McCarthy had a mixed reaction to the fixing of their game on Saturday week, in Nowlan Park. And Limerick manager Dave Keane wasn't entirely pleased either that their game with Offaly has been fixed for Thursday week, in Semple Stadium. The game couldn't be played this weekend because of the involvement of three players with both teams. And, in the event of Limerick losing in Sunday's Munster SFC final in Killarney, they will be in action in the qualifier competition the following Sunday.

RTÉ, meanwhile, are unhappy that none of the three games was fixed for this Saturday evening. They have a contract with the GAA to put on a series of live games on Saturdays and sports executives reacted with surprise to yesterday's news. Last month, RTÉ also lost out when cameras were banned from Thurles on safety grounds by the Fire Officer for the Limerick/Waterford Munster SHC semi-final replay.

Waterford manager McCarthy said he appreciated the extra week would be of benefit to Wexford and will help his side on the injury front.

"While Wexford were beaten in the Leinster final, it's very hard to compare Kilkenny to any other. They will want to bounce back, so we will have to be careful. But, we will be trying to redeem ourselves also," he added, while Wexford selector Dickie Murphy was happy with the pairing, admitting: "The last team we would have wanted to play was Tipperary."

Limerick manager David Keane said the draw was going to be difficult either way because of the quality of the teams involved. His more immediate concern is players who sustained injuries in club games over the weekend, while three of the panel, Conor Fitzgerald, Brian Begley and Stephen Lucey will play in Sunday's Munster SFC final.

His Offaly counterpart, Mike McNamara, made two observations from the Faithful perspective, pointing out that they are team-building with an eye to the future and coming up to the standard being set by Kilkenny. But he added that the date of the game will give the winners less time to prepare for an All-Ireland quarter-final tie on July 27.

Tipp's Michael Doyle was philosophical, remarking: "They are all on an even footing." And Galway manager Conor Hayes didn't comment directly on the pairing, other than to express dissatisfaction that they didn't know until yesterday who they would be playing!

Hayes confirmed he has three injury worries ahead of their crucial second round qualifier against Tipperary on Sunday at Pearse Stadium. Wing forward Kevin Broderick is very doubtful with a back injury, David Tiernan hasn't recovered fully from a hand injury sustained against Clare, while Mark Kerins has ankle and hamstring injuries.

The winners will join Ulster champions Antrim in another draw to the All-Ireland quarter-final pairings, the eventual winners advancing to meet Cork and Kilkenny.