Erin’s Own at full strength for final
This will be the Glounthaune club’s first appearance in the final and according to team manager Martin Bowen, it’s a game they are eagerly looking forward to.
“The last occasion we won the Cork title was back in 1992 but we subsequently failed to Kilmallock after a replay in the first round of the provincial championship. It’s late in the year but this is where we want to be. We have never played Toomevara before so this game is a first for us also. It should be an interesting afternoon.”
Like their opponents, Toomevara are also injury free. Both Paddy O’Brien and Padraig Hackett who missed out on the semi-final win over Mount Sion, have recovered and are available for selection.
“It’s a predicament for the selectors to find themselves a full squad to choose from but it’s a nice problem to have,” said club PRO Tommy Shanahan.
“We were last in the final in 2004 after beating Mount Sion by a point, but we failed to Athenry in the All-Ireland semi-final. It’s been 14 years since we contested the final and we are keen to get back into another national final.”
Francie Bellew looks set to return for Crossmaglen’s Ulster Club SFC final against Ballinderry on Sunday. The county full back missed last week’s semi-final win over Clontibret with a shoulder injury, but should be fit to play some part in the final at Casement Park. There is concern in the Ballinderry camp about the fitness of defenders Niall McCusker and Paul Wilson.
Meanwhile Mullinahone who have been waiting weeks for their Munster Club IFC semi-final, will be without three key players for Sunday’s clash with newly-crowned Cork champions St Vincent’s at Cloneen.
County senior hurler Paul Curran, Philip O’Shea and Vincent Doheny who is the captain, have all gone on holidays and according to club secretary Oliver Vaughan, will be a massive loss to the team.
“Whatever chance we had of winning with them, we have none without them,” claimed Vaughan. “It’s very disappointing for us to lose three such good players because of the delay in playing the game, but you cannot legislate for draws and I understand there were two in the Cork final before St Vincent’s eventually won out.
“Had we a full compliment of players we would give ourselves a good chance. Our football is very good, possibly better than our hurling, but the small ball game comes first with us. Had we any bit of luck at all we would be contesting the Munster SHC final and not Toomevara. They got a rather fortuitous goal with the last puck of the game to win it. We are still trying to recover from that disappointment.”
St Vincent’s will have to play without their captain Declan O’Connell. He was forced off 20 minutes into last Sunday’s final with a badly torn hamstring and has no chance of playing.
Team coach Keith Ricken said it was a wonderful achievement to win last Sunday. “It has given us senior status for 2007 and it would be our intention to stay up as long as we can.
“We’ve celebrated the win in style, but we won’t be resting on our laurels. It’s back to serious training tonight and the lads are determined to give Sunday’s Munster semi-final their best shot.
“Chances to win Munster titles don’t come around too often for clubs and we intend to avail of it. Mullinahone are reputed to be a very good football side and we’ll treat them with the respect they deserve.”
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