Manogue out to steer Stephen’s to decider

FOR most counties, an All-Ireland final involvement enhances public interest in the domestic championships and it will be no different in Nowlan Park when the Kilkenny hurling semi-finals are decided tomorrow.

The honour or leading Kilkenny next year will be especially prized with the county bidding for the fifth consecutive title, but that won’t be an issue until early next summer.

It’s certainly not part of Shamrocks manager Michael Fennelly agenda ahead of their game against O’Loughlin Gaels (3.30pm) and while Brian Cody would love to see a ‘Village’ captain in 2010, the man tasked with trying to steer James Stephens past Erin’s Own in the other semi-final (1.45) is unlikely to have given much thought to it either.