Kerry look ‘to get blend right’

BARRY JOHN WALSH is one of four Tralee CBS players on the Kerry team which opens the defence of their Munster MFC title against Tipperary in Limerick tonight (6.30pm).

Seven months ago his brother Tommy on the side which lost to Roscommon in the All-Ireland final replay and Kerry chiefs will be hoping to go one better this year and bring the Tomas Markham Cup back to the Kingdom for the first time since 1994.

Kerry have six of last year’s team available: Tomás Mac an tSaoir, Michael Ó Sé, John Buckley, Jamie Doolan, Pat Curtin and Eoin Kennedy.

Along with Walsh, the other Green players on the starting 15 are Danny O’Sullivan, Denis McElliggott and Barry Shanahan while Alan O’Donoghue and Joe Scully are subs.

Tralee CBS mentors hope everyone come through unscathed ahead of an All-Ireland Colleges SFC final against Omagh on Sunday, April 22 in Croke Park.

Kerry coach John Kennedy: “We have put in a huge amount of work looking to get the blend right, but we’ll be taking no chances with Tipperary. They pushed us very hard in last year’s Munster final and I’m expecting the same effort from them tonight.”

Tipperary start three of the side which failed to the Kingdom in last year’s final, corner-back John Coghlan, Paddy Murphy at midfield and centre-forward Sean Carey.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Cathal Scully, Ciaran Kenrick and Declan Lynch were panel members in 2006.

In contrast Cork include just one of last year’s team, Chris O’Donovan (Valley Rovers), who will also captain the team in the absence of any representative from county champions St Michaels for the game against Waterford in Fermoy (6.30pm).

Clare have included David Cannole on their team to play Limerick in Cusack Park (6.30pm). The Kinfinora youngster was on the Banner U21 team which shocked Kerry in the Munster championship last month.

CORK (MFC v Waterford): B. Walsh (Oliver Plunketts); I. Jones (Bishopstown), R. Buckley (Macroom), L. Long (Kilmurry); B. Kelleher (Cullen), M. Mennis (Carbery Rangers), D. O’Sullivan (Ballinascarthy); C. O’Donovan (Valley Rovers), M. Hickey (Carrignavar); A. Walsh (Kanturk), B. O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers), T. Walsh (Grenagh); L. O’Loughlin (Kanturk), C. Sheehan (Eire Og), C. Dunne (Canovee).

Subs: O. O’Mahony (Kilmurry), G. Holland (Barryroe), M. Cahalane (Castlehaven), D. Twomey (Newcestown), S. Howard (Passage), D. O’Callaghan (Kinsale), P. Honohan (Bishopstown), B. Horgan (Newcestown), K. O’Driscoll (Tadgh MacCarthaighs), K. O’Gorman (Mitchelstown).

KERRY (MFC v Tipperary): T. Mac an tSaoir (an Gaeltacht); D. O’Sullivan (Kerins O’Rahillys), B. Shanahan (Austin Stacks), D. McElliggott (Austin Stacks); M. Ó Sé (An Gaeltacht), P. Costelloe (Ballyduff), B. O’Leary (Dr Crokes); J. Buckley (Dr Crokes), I. Somers (Currow); BJ Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys), J. Doolan (Dr Crokes), T. O’Sullivan (Beaufort); K. O’Flynn (Laune Rangers), P. Curtin (Moyvane), E. Kennedy (Asdee).

Subs: S. Horgan (St. Marys), J. Scully (Castlegregory), A. O’Reilly (Spa), B. Russell (do), JP Spillane (Castlegregory), A. O’Dwyer (Waterville), A. O’Donoghue (John Mitchells), T. Brosnan (Dingle), C. Wallace (Ardfert).

TIPPERARY (MFC v Kerry): Keith McMahon (Inane Rovers); John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Diarmuid O’Sullivan (Ardfinnan), Kevin O’Riordan (J. K. Brackens); Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers), Donal Lynch (Commercials), Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow); Paddy Murphy (Nenagh Eire Og), Jonathan Cody (Clonakenny); Alan Lonergan (Commercials), Sean Carey (Moyle Rovers), Cathal Scully (J. K. Brackens); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Bernard O’Brien (Aherlow), Kevin Walzer (Mullinahone).

LIMERICK (MFC v Clare): B. Scanlon (Gerald Griffins); S. O’Connor (St. Kierans), M. McCormack (Crecora), J. Riordan (Templeglantine); C. Downes (Newcastle West), G. O’Toole (Monaleen), E. Gleeson (Cappamore); B. O’Brien (Bruff), E. Joy (Fr. Caseys); D. Quaid (St. Marys/Rathkeale), I. Ryan (St. Senans), S. McAuliffe (Newcastle West); D. Byrne (Monaleen), C. Joyce-Power (Ahane), J. Martin (Glin).

Subs: P. Horan (Glin), S. Hayes (Killuta Gaels), E. Kennedy (Ahane), S. Hartnett (Fr Caseys), J. Riordan (Templeglantine), P. McEnry (Fr Caseys), T. Scanlon (Glin), C. Moriarty (Galtee Gaels), E. Fitzgibbon (Oola).

CLARE (MFC v Limerick): P. Russell (Wolfe Tones); D. Gallery (do), D. Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), B. Gleeson (Cratloe); L. Markham (do), M. McCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane), B. Egan (Dunbeg); M. McDonagh (Ennistymon), D. Connole (Kilfinora); C. O’Connor (Coolmeen), S. Collins (Cratloe), D. Ryan (Corofin); E. Lyons (St. Josephs Doora-Barefield), S. Crotty (The Banner), G. Leahy (Wolfe Tones).