Cork wait on board meeting to decide on U-21 postponement

CORK GAA chiefs will wait until next week’s county board meeting before deciding whether to seek a deferment of their All-Ireland U-21 FC semi-final.

Cork’s dramatic provincial title win over Tipperary secured their passage through to a last four clash on Saturday, April 18.

However, the opening round of Cork SFC fixtures are fixed for that weekend.

At last Tuesday’s board meeting, secretary Frank Murphy stated that in the event of Cork winning the Munster title, the option of deferring the national tie would be explored.

Cork, who are set to face the winners of Sunday’s Leinster decider between Dublin and Laois, could opt to apply to get the game put back to the following weekend. There is also the possibility of staging the game midweek under floodlights, with Semple Stadium and O’Moore Park both suitable venues.

Cork PRO Ger Lane yesterday revealed that the matter will be dealt with on Tuesday. “We’ll have to wait until the next board meeting. We don’t know our opponents yet in the All-Ireland semi-final so we need to find that out first.

If the game is deferred, there will be an anxious wait for Cork boss John Cleary that his players emerge unscathed from the local games on the weekend of April 18 and 19. Bishopstown’s Jamie O’Sullivan and Paul Honohan will be part of their squad that face St Nicholas, while Darren Farry and Barry O’Driscoll will be part of the Nemo Rangers setup against a Ballincollig side for whom Noel Galvin and Liam Jennings will feature.

Other players with senior club commitments that weekend are Conor O’Driscoll (Ilen Rovers) Shane McCarthy (Douglas) and Mark Collins (Castlehaven).

The dilemma could increase for the Cork camp because divisional and college sides are likely to call upon the services of the vast majority of the rest of their squad. John and Lorcán McLoughlin, Aidan Walsh and Bart Daly are all in line to be part of Duhallow’s efforts against a Cork IT side who could field Colm O’Neill and Brian Walsh. Ciarán Sheehan, David Goold and Rory Buckley are all eligible for Muskerry, Chris O’Donovan should feature for Carrigdhoun, Eoin Buckley is likely to be in the Seandún setup while Carbery can call on the services of Kevin and Colm O’Driscoll, and Denis O’Sullivan.