Rebels fighting fit for Déise clash

THE NHL games which fell victim to the weather last weekend have now been re-fixed, with Cork playing Waterford in Walsh Park on Saturday at 2.30pm, while Carlow take on Meath at 1pm the same day in Dr Cullen Park. Dublin now play Antrim on March 28th.

Cork selector Martin Bowen says the Rebels expect to have a full panel to pick from.

“We don’t expect to be missing anyone,” says Bowen.

“The team we pick will probably be along the same lines — it’d be hard to change it, to be fair nobody’s played themselves off it — but we’ll pick it tonight as per usual. Kieran Murphy of Sarsfields will be playing with the University of Limerick in the Fitzgibbon Cup finals in Carlow, but he hasn’t figured this year yet anyway. He’s their captain so we’ve left him concentrate on that competition until it’s finished.

“The news of the postponement came through before we left Cork, we were down in the Silver Springs Hotel when it came through so we just took the lads for breakfast. It was unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done. We heard Thursday night that it’d be very doubtful and we were told the rain was heavy on the Sunday morning in Waterford.”

Dublin play Antrim on a Wednesday evening (March 28th). Dubs boss Tommy Naughton doesn’t have an issue if floodlights have to be used: “Playing under lights wouldn’t be an issue, but I think the clocks go forward around then, so it should be fairly bright. I understand the lights Antrim have are pretty good in any case.

“I suppose it would have been a match out of the way if they’d gone ahead with last Sunday’s game, but the conditions were so bad it would’ve been a complete lottery.”

The NFL game between Leitrim and London will be re-fixed today.

Meanwhile, Clare will be without eight first choice players for their NHL tie against Waterford in Cusack Park on March 18th.

“Before Sunday’s game against Wexford we were without four first choice players and that was bad enough,” said Considine, “To compound our problems, four more have been added to the list, Jonathan Clancy (hamstring), Barry Nugent (calf), Declan O’Rourke (eye) and Colm Forde (bruised after a collision) after the weekend.

He added: “Team captain Frank Lohan is recovering from a broken finger, Fergal Lynch has a neck injury, Gerry O’Grady (quad muscle) and Derek Quinn (ankle). Fortunately the injuries are coming now and not in the run up to the championship in May.”

Clancy also cut his knee, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of Friday’s Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final against UL.

Limerick are another county with serious injury concerns. Brian Geary has a suspected broken thumb from the game with Galway, corner back Dinny Moloney sustained a serious knee injury while Donal O’Grady burst a blood vessel in his leg. He is expected to be fit for the away tie against Kilkenny on March 18th, but both Geary and Moloney must be considered extremely doubtful.

Team manager Richie Bennis expressed his disappointment at the defeat by Galway.

“We turned over a point in front after playing into the wind and while it died somewhat for the second half, nevertheless we had hurled well and I was confident we could keep our noses in front”, he said.

“Unfortunately we lost our shape, went back to making fundamental mistakes and paid the price for it.”

Wexford manager John Myler revealed that Rory McCarthy and Stephen Banville picked up hamstring injuries in the victory against Clare.

“I won’t know until next week if they will be fit for the home game against Offaly but it’s touch and go. Hopefully they will be able to play as we need to build on the Clare victory which was most encouraging.”

Buoyed by their victory over Kilkenny — and no injury problems — Tipperary face Antrim in Templemore on March 18th with confidence.

Team manager “Babs” Keating wants his side to reach the knockout stages as it would give his team another competitive match ahead of their championship game against Limerick.

“For that to happen however we need Kilkenny to drop another two points and we must win our remaining games,” he said.

Offaly manager John McIntyre has no serious injury problems following his side’s comfortable win over Down.

“Wexford are our next opponents and it was good to see them win against Clare. It means we won’t be going into the game with blinkers on, while they may feel a bit snug.”