Replacements speculation

ALTHOUGH the disciplinary process following the row at last Sunday’s Cork-Clare clash in the Munster SHC has only begun, there is already intense speculation as to the likely replacements for both sides in the unlikely event of all the suspensions coming through.

If Cork are to line out without Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, John Gardiner and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, then several of the Rebel County’s up and coming players may be selected. Anthony Nash of Kanturk is a highly regarded young goalkeeper, while wing-backs Peter Kelly and Kevin Hartnett will come into contention as direct replacements on either side of Ronan Curran.

Replacing Diarmuid O’Sullivan may necessitate further switches in the full-back line, however. Cian O’Connor was at full-back for several games during the spring and may move across from the corner to the edge of the square. Shane O’Neill may then take over at left-corner-back.

Clare have more clear-cut replacements in line for their quartet under threat of suspension — Alan Markham, Colin Lynch, Barry Nugent and Andrew Quinn.

Defender Pat Vaughan is top of the list to replace wing-back Markham, while several forward options present themselves to take the others’ places. Both Bernard Gaffney and Declan O’Rourke impressed when introduced as substitutes against Cork — both of them scoring — and those players could replace Nugent and Quinn directly.

Colin Lynch drifted between the full- and half-forward lines against Cork, and that may influence Clare’s choice of replacement. The Banner have the option of selecting either Daithí Ó Conaill, if they want a player to operate out the field, or Derek Quinn, if they want a replacement to play in the full-forward line.