Kerrigan gives Nemo semi lift

NEMO Rangers’ All-Ireland senior football aspirations have received a massive boost with attacker Paul Kerrigan set to be fit in time for Saturday week’s club semi-final tie against Connacht champions St Brigid’s in the Gaelic Grounds.

Kerrigan limped off during the second half of last month’s Munster final victory over Dr Crokes after sustaining a blow to his knee. He had a scan which revealed bruising on the upper part of his leg and on the side of the knee itself.

Meanwhile, Clare boss Micheal McDermott has called for leading referees in the country to be appointed to officiate Division 4 football league games as he feels the ties in the basement division place officials under huge pressure.

“Every game in Division 4 now is like a championship match as teams are so desperate to get out of the division and gain promotion,” he said. “If you look at the tables, there are always only one or two points between the teams as they’re evenly matched.

“There’s a lot of pressure on referees to get decisions right in Division 4, which you don’t always get in divisions 1 or 2, where teams are experimenting or looking to consolidate their status.”