Sixmilebridge want Fitzy/Considine row resolved ‘within a week’
Sixmilebridge endeavoured to raise the matter of Fitzgerald’s continued absence from the Clare panel at Tuesday night’s county board meeting and chaos reigned as journalists were asked to leave for a brief spell.
County board chairman Michael McDonagh said he would allow Sixmilebridge to make a statement on the matter – but that there would be no discussion.
Speaking on behalf of Sixmilebridge, high-ranking official John Corbett stated that the club want to see the matter sorted out within a week.
Attempts at mediation have failed and as the ultimate authority, the Clare Board Executive Committee has now been urged to find a solution.
Fitzgerald’s father Pat now finds himself in a tricky position as he is county board secretary. However, no fresh developments are expected before the weekend. Fitzgerald was absent from last night’s training session and will not be between the sticks tonight either when the Banner County take on a colleges team in a challenge match under lights in Puckane.
Cork recall Anthony Lynch and Kevin McMahon for their Allianz NFL Division 1 ‘A’ clash with All-Ireland champions Kerry at Tralee on Saturday.
Both Lynch and McMahon missed last weekend’s defeat by Donegal, the Naomh Abán player because of flu and the Carbery Rangers winger as a result of a shoulder injury.
Lynch takes over the left half back position from Eoin Cadogan, while McMahon comes in at left half forward for Conor McCarthy.
Kerry, with Kieran Donaghy under suspension, Declan O’Sullivan and Paul Galvin, currently out of the country, Eoin Brosnan and Colm Cooper, released because of club commitments, and Darren O’Sullivan ruled out with a broken bone in his hand, have delayed selection of their team.
The Limerick team to open their Division 1B NFL campaign against Dublin at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday includes just two members of the county U-21 football team which qualified for the All-Ireland final against Tyrone, in 2000.
They are John Galvin, who lines out at midfield, and Michael Reidy, at corner forward. The only other player from the team which was managed by Liam Kearns, and now included in the substitutes, is Jason Stokes, who is suffering from an ankle injury.
Though the Dubs played in front of 80,000 plus at Croke Park last weekend, they will experience a much different atmosphere at the Gaelic Grounds, where an attendance of 2,500 is expected.
The game was brought forward to Saturday because of the historic meeting between Ireland and France in the Six Nations Championship at Croke Park on Sunday.
Not surprisingly, in view of their tremendous win over Wexford last weekend, Waterford manager John Kiely has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s away game to Sligo.
Longford have been forced to make one change from the side which crushed London for Saturday’s Division 2A meeting with Monaghan. Full-forward Kevin Mulligan is ruled out through injury and is replaced by Paul O’Hara in a restructured attack.
Injuries and flu have forced Roscommon manager John Maughan to defer selection of his side due to travel to London at the weekend. Sean Purcell limped off during the course of last Sunday’s defeat by Monaghan, while flu victims Michael Finneran and David Casey have been unable to train.
CORK (SF v Kerry): P. O’Shea; M. Shields, D. Coughlan, K. O’Connor; N. O’ Leary, G. Spillane, A. Lynch; P. O’Neill, D. Kavanagh; S. O’Brien, N. Murphy, K. McMahon; J. Masters, D. O’Connor, K. O’Sullivan.
LONGFORD (SF v Monaghan): D. Sheridan(C); D. Brady, D. Masterson, C. Conefrey; D. O’ Reilly, E. Ledwith, S. Mulligan; B. McElvaney, L. Keenan; P. O’Hara, P. Barden,T. Smullen; D. Barden, B. Kavanagh, P. Berry.
LIMERICK (SF v Dublin): S. Kiely; D. Carroll, J. McCarthy, S. Gallagher; P. Ahern, P. Browne, P. Ranahan; T. Cahill, J. Galvin; J. O’Brien, J. Ryan, J. Cooke, M. Crowley, D. Horan, M Reidy.
CAVAN (SF v Wicklow): J. Reilly; M. Cahill, A. Forde, K. Fannin; P. Brady, E. Reilly, M. Brennan; D. McCabe, M. Cunningham; R. Cullivan, M. McKeever, L. Mulvey; G. Pierson, R. Gallagher, S. Johnston.
WATERFORD (SF v SLIGO): T. Wall; S. Briggs, J. Seaward, M. O’Gorman; D. Hickey, E. Rocket, P. Ogle; M. Ahern, J. Hurney; B. Wall, G. Power, W. Hennessy; L. O’Lionan, A. Hubbard, J. Ryan.
OFFALY (SF v Carlow): P. Kelly; E. Byrne, J. Quinn, N. Grennan; P. McConway, S. Sullivan, K. Slattery; C. McManus, A. McNamee; S. Brady, N. NcNamee, S. Ryan; J. Coughlan, N. Coughlan, K. Casey.
