Scanlon and Murphy boost Munster hopes

MUNSTER’S hopes of claiming back-to-back Interprovincial football titles for the first time since 1982 have been boosted by the inclusion of Cork’s Nicholas Murphy and Kerry’s Seamus Scanlon for Sunday’s final against Ulster.

The two midfielders have been parachuted into the provincial selection having played no part in the semi-final win over Connacht. Cork’s Alan O’Connor and Patrick Kelly patrolled the centre in that game but the former picked up an injury against John O’Mahony’s side and has been named on the bench for the weekend.

Kelly is better known as an industrious wing-forward under Conor Counihan and it is in that role in which he will be expected to shine at Ruislip in London.

“Looking at the Ulster line-up, we felt that we had to strengthen up around the middle of the field,” said Munster manager Ger O’Sullivan. “We have also named Pearse O’Neill at number 11 which will add to that department. Robbie Costigan from Tipperary is unlucky to lose out in the backs but he is a good sub to come on. Pa Ranahan from Limerick got a vital goal against Connacht in the semi-final. Patrick Kelly, is back to his normal position of right-half forward, Pearse O’Neill is in at centre-forward and Donncha O’Connor will captain the side from wing-forward. The full-forward line is the same.”

The only other alteration from the semi-final success is positional with Waterford’s Maurice O’Gorman vacating his slot in the half-forward line in favour of a berth at wing-back.

Five counties will be represented in total with Cork enjoying the lion’s share with six, Waterford providing four, Kerry and Limerick two apiece and Tipperary one.

The inclusion of Scanlon is significant as the Munster side which defeated Connacht did not include a single Kerry player from the starting 15 which won the All-Ireland final.

“With the Kerry county championship games being on after the All-Ireland, it prevented a lot of fellas from coming in,” said O’Sullivan. “But Seamus Scanlon finished his club final with Currow last Sunday so he has been able to come on board and he is a good addition.”

MUNSTER (v Ulster): P Fitzgerald (Tipperary); T O’Gorman (Waterford), J McCarthy (Limerick), P Reidy (Kerry); M O’Gorman (Waterford), M Shields (Cork), P Ranahan (Limerick); N Murphy (Cork), S Scanlon (Kerry); P Kelly (Cork), P O’Neill (Cork), D O’Connor (Cork); G Hurney (Waterford), C O’Neill (Cork), L O Lionnain (Waterford).

Subs: J Hayes (Cork), P Kerrigan (Cork), R Costigan (Tipperary), G Quinlan (Clare), A Walsh (Cork), D Goulding (Cork), A O’Connor (Cork), S Walsh (Waterford), J Ryan (Limerick).