Cunningham admits Cork job ‘interest’

GER CUNNINGHAM has said that he would still be interested in managing the Cork hurlers if the opportunity arises.

The St Finbarrs clubman has been linked with the post in the past but was not considered by the county board. He is currently managing Ballygunner in Waterford.

“I played for 20 years and I’m involved in management now but it’s something new to me. Probably, if the opportunity comes to you, you’d look at it.”

Cunningham’s uncle, Pa Finn, is a selector under current manager Denis Walsh and the former Cork goalkeeper likes what he is hearing ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier against Galway.

“There’s progress in that it’s very quiet, which I think is a good sign. There is not a lot coming out of the camp. It seems to be all very positive. Denis has done a very good job so we are delighted with him.”

Cork would have to win four games if they are to claim another All-Ireland title, starting with this weekend’s tie against a Galway side energised by their display against Kilkenny and comfortable defeat of Clare.

“Galway look to be different. Their work ethic seems to be much more intense compared with what it was. They have learned from last year. John McIntyre has brought a different element to the game.

“It will be very tight. It might not be the most open game. Someone is going home. It is knockout at this stage. It only starts now.

Meanwhile, angry Wexford manager Colm Bonnar has called on the GAA to immediately scrap plans to relegate one county from next year’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship. The Tipperary native has described the prospect of competing in the proposed relegation play-offs as “ridiculous” and has insisted that his position as boss is uncertain as confusion reigns.

Bonnar insisted that relegation from the Liam MacCarthy Cup is “unthinkable” for Wexford, who must compete in Division 2 of the National Hurling League in 2010 after failing to gain promotion this year.

Bonnar is also annoyed that Wexford are embroiled in a relegation battle given they won a championship match this year, against Offaly. The two-time All-Ireland medallist insisted an easy solution is at hand as Christy Ring Cup winners Carlow’s participation in next year’s Leinster SHC ensures an eight-team competition in the province.

An even number of teams means that four quarter-finals can be played and avoid the situation that occurred this summer where Kilkenny were unsure of their semi-final opponents until a fortnight before the game.

Bonnar has also insisted that with Antrim guaranteed three years in the Leinster SHC, the relegation play-off is now null and void because of the Saffron County’s involvement.

He said: “All of the teams involved have no appetite for this and can’t see the sense in it.

“We’re trying to promote the game and play at a high level, we were beaten narrowly by Limerick and Dublin and yet the powers that be want to see ourselves, Clare or Offaly being relegated? “

Meanwhile four of Tipperary’s senior stars in last Sunday’s Munster title success will be in action for the county’s U21 side in tomorrow night’s Munster U21HC semi-final against Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan at 7.30pm.

Padraic Maher starts at full-back, Noel McGrath plays at right half-forward, Seamus Callanan is named at centre-forward while Brendan Maher, who was introduced as a substitute on Sunday, will play at left half-back.

Tipperary boss Declan Carr has made two changes from the side that defeated Cork in the quarter-final last month. Thurles Sarsfields Michael Cahill has recovered from injury to start at left corner-back with Kevin Maher moving out to left half-back in place of the injured Thomas McGrath.

Clonoulty-Rossmore’s John O’Neill, who made a huge impression in the match against Cork is rewarded with a starting place at full-forward. O’Neill’s introduction sees Patrick Maher switch out to left half-forward, Noel McGrath move across to the right wing and Michael Gleeson drop to the bench.

Clare have named three players who featured in their senior outfits defeat against Galway last Saturday for their U21 semi-final tie with Limerick tomorrow night in Cusack Park at 7:30pm. Colin Ryan, who started for the senior side, will play at left corner-forward while John Conlon and Caimin Morey, both introduced as substitutes against Galway, are named at right half-forward and full-forward respectively.

Elsewhere, eight members of the Waterford senior hurling panel have been named in the U21 side to meet Tipperary.

While corner back Noel Connors is the only player that featured in the starting defeat in last Sunday’s four point defeat to Tipp, no fewer than seven of the substitutes are spread throughout what is regarded within the Déise as a very decent U21 outfit.

Goalkeeper Adrian Power has been pushing Clinton Hennessy strongly in the senior squad, while Jerome Maher and Shane Fives complete a really powerful looking fullback line with Connors. The other four members of the senior panel all feature in attack – Thomas Connors and Shane Casey at centre and full forward respectively, and Maurice Shanahan and Tomas Ryan on the left flank.

WATERFORD U21H (v Tipperary); A. Power; J. Maher, S. Fives, N. Connors; P. Mahony, S.Daniels. D. O’Sullivan; J.Gorman, S. O’Hare; P. Murray, T. Connors, . M. Shanahan, B. O’Sullivan, S. Casey, T. Ryan.TIPPERARY U21H: B McCormack; D Maher, Padraic Maher, M Cahill; B Maher, T Stapleton, K Maher; S Hennessy, G Ryan; N McGrath, S Callanan, Patrick Maher; P Bourke, J O’Neill, S Burke.

CLARE U21H (v Limerick): D Tuohy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O’Doherty; D O’Donovan, C Duggan, E Barrett; N O’Connell, L Markham; J Conlon, S Collins, C O’Donovan; D Honan, C Morey, C Ryan.