Cork star Shields could face fixture dilemma

CORK defender Michael Shields could face a fixture dilemma if St Finbarr’s qualify for Sunday’s week county SFC final against Nemo Rangers.

St Finbarr’s face Carbery Rangers in this Saturday’s last four tie and victory could create a difficulty as Shields is strongly tipped to be involved with the Irish International Rules squad. The first test against Australia in the first test in Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is scheduled to take place just 24 hours before the county decider.

The issue of club versus country conflicts has surfaced in other counties in recent weeks. The Dublin county board took the decision to bring their SFC final forward to next weekend due to the involvement of Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh) and Michael Dara MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s) in training with the Ireland squad.

Ultimately the switch was not needed as both Brogan and MacAuley’s clubs failed to reach the decider. Wicklow player Leighton Glynn is also in the frame to make the 30-man Irish squad which is being named tomorrow as his club Rathnew’s Leinster Club SFC first round against Meath side Skyrne is fixed for October 24th.

Meanwhile Nemo Rangers boss Eddie Kirwin is confident that he will have a full deck to pick from for Sunday week’s Cork SFC decider. Former county senior trio James Masters, Dylan Mehigan and Martin Cronin all missed out on last Sunday’s semi-final victory over Clonakilty with injuries. Masters was suffering from a back problem which has curtailed his involvement over the past two months, Mehigan had broken a bone in his hand and Cronin had incurred a hamstring strain. Yet all three are expected to recover in time to challenge for selection for the final.