Three Kerry changes for junior final with Limerick

KERRY have made three changes for tonight’s Munster JFC final against Limerick in Newcastlewest at 7.30pm, from the team that defeated Cork in the semi-final clash last month.

Eoin O’Neill and Gary O’Driscoll have both gone to the USA for the summer, with former Kerry All-Ireland senior winner Brendan Guiney replacing O’Neill at left half-back and Mike Coakley coming in at midfield for O’Driscoll.

An injury to An Ghaeltacht sharpshooter Aodhán MacGearailt rules him out of the equation in attack, with Mike Murphy coming into the starting side at centre-forward and Michael O’Donoghue moving in to play at full-forward.

Kingdom manager Kerry O’Sullivan is hopeful his side can maintain the strong form that has seen them claim the scalps of Tipperary and Cork to date this season on the provincial scene.

“Tipperary were a very good side and we rated them highly as they had done a lot of work in conjunction with the county senior side.

“Cork then are always strong at this grade and are the reigning All-Ireland champions. We were delighted to get over the those two hurdles.

“Our preparation has not been great since then because of the lads gone away, injuries and also players gone back to their clubs for local championship matches.

“But we’re hoping to overcome all that now tonight.”

Kerry’s opponents Limerick have made two personnel switches from the team that defeated Waterford in their semi-final clash in Dungarvan. David Finnerty comes in for the injuredDarragh Woods at right corner-back and Robert Browne replaces Liam Costelloe at right half-forward.

Limerick are bidding for a first junior title since 1950.

Indeed the clash marks Limerick’s first final appearance in the competition for 47 years.

KERRY JF: S Óg Ciardubháin (Cordal); G O’Connor (Castlegregory), F Griffin (Glenbeigh/Glencar), A Cahill (Spa); E Hickson (Annascaul), A Greaney (St Pats), B Guiney (Listowel Emmetts); M Coakley (Scartaglin), D Murphy (Gneeveguilla); B Poff (St Pats), M Murphy (Gneeveguilla), A O’Sullivan (Tuosist); G Sayers (Keel), M O’Donoghue (Spa), J Buckley (Currow).

Subs: P O’Sullivan (Churchill), T McGoldrick (Brosna), D Doyle (Churchill), F Courtney (Beaufort), B Gleeson (Spa), A Fitzgerald (Castlegregory), C O’Mahony (Ballydonoghue), F McAuliffe (Brosna).

LIMERICK JF: P Ivess (Kilcornan); D Finnerty (St. Senan’s), K O’Connor (Fr. Casey’s), E Mulcahy (Pallasgreen); E O’Donnell (Castletown-Ballyagran), B Teahan (St. Patrick’s), E Barry (Dromcollogher-Broadford); E Horan (Glin), M Behan (St. Senan’s); R Browne (Fr. Casey’s), T Collins (Fr. Casey’s), D McCarthy (Dromcollogher-Broadford); J O’Connell (Pallasgreen), T Butler (Castlemahon), R Lynch (Dromcollogher-Broadford).

Subs: C Wallace (Hosptial-Herbertstown), T Begley (Mountcollins), E Fitzgibbon (Oola), L Costelloe (Adare), S Mulcahy (Pallasgreen), W Enright (St. Senan’s), M Galvin (Fr. Casey’s), M Lyons (Adare), G Egan (Dromcollogher-Broadford).