Kennedy calls up Kerry big guns

KERRY boss John Kennedy has named five senior panellists in his side for tomorrow night’s Munster U21FC semi-final against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds.

Right corner-back Peter Crowley, left half-back Jonathan Lyne, centre-forward Barry John Walsh, full-forward Daithi Casey and left corner-forward Paul Geaney have all been involved in Jack O’Connor’s senior squads in this season’s Allianz National League ties.

In addition, right half-forward James O’Donoghue and left half-forward Alan O’Donoghue have both tasted McGrath Cup action for Kerry over the past two years. Crowley, Casey and right corner-forward Stephen O’Brien all attained Sigerson Cup success recently with UCC.

Opponents Limerick have delayed naming their team for the match as they wait to assess the fitness of attacker Seamus O’Carroll, who suffered a facial injury while featuring for the county seniors in their Division 3 victory over Louth on Sunday. Attacker Eoghan O’Connor does look set to be fit having been hampered with a dead leg but panellist Barry Ryan has been ruled out.

Cork manager John Cleary has named six players who featured in the county’s All-Ireland U21FC final victory two years ago in his starting XV for tomorrow night’s Munster U21FC semi-final against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Senior stars Aidan Walsh and Ciaran Sheehan are named at midfield and right half-forward respectively, with Walsh captaining the team and Sheehan acting as vice-captain. The other survivors from the 2009 victory are right corner-back Liam Jennings, centre-forward Mark Collins, full-forward Barry O’Driscoll and left corner-forward Paul Honohan.

Cleary has also called on five members of the Cork minor team that reached last September’s All-Ireland final. Damian Cahalane starts at full-back, Alan Cronin will play at left corner-back, Tomás Clancy is selected at centre-back, Jamie Wall gets the nod at left half-back and John O’Rourke will line up at left half-forward. A sixth member of that minor side, Kevin Hallissey, is listed amongst the subs.

Meanwhile, Westmeath underage star John Heslin has been omitted from their line-up for tomorrow’s Leinster U21FC semi-final against Longford, despite being available for selection following a four-week ban.

Wexford have made one change for their semi-final tie with Carlow, with Michael Furlong coming in at corner-back in place of Declan Murphy.

KERRY U21F: B Kelly (Legion); P Crowley (Laune Rangers), M Griffin (St Michael’s-Foilmore), P Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar); J Sherwood (Firies), B Shanahan (Austin Stacks), J Lyne (Legion); C Moriarty (Dingle), E Walsh (Knocknagoshel); J O’Donoghue (Legion), BJ Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys), A Fitzgerald (Castlegregory); S O’Brien (Kenmare), D Casey (Dr Crokes), P Geaney (Dingle).

Subs: S O’Leary (Currow), D O’Leary (Dr Crokes), K Hurley (St Pat’s), J Walsh (Knocknagoshel), T Ladden (Keel), C O’Shea (Firies), N O’Shea (Dromid Pearses), J Coffey (Beaufort), S Carroll (Austin Stacks).

CORK U21F: S Mellet (Carrigaline); L Jennings (Ballincollig), D Cahalane (Castlehaven), A Cronin (Nemo Rangers); P Daly (St Mary’s), T Clancy (Clonakilty), J Wall (Kilbrittain); M O’Laoire (Naomh Aban), A Walsh (Kanturk); C Sheehan (Éire Óg), M Collins (Castlehaven), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); D Óg Hodnett (O’Donovan Rossa), B O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers), P Honohan (Bishopstown).

Subs: D Farry (Nemo Rangers), D O’Donovan (Ilen Rovers), T Clancy (Fermoy), J Cronin (Lisgoold), D Nation (Nemo Rangers), B Coughlan (Kinsale), K Hallissey (Éire Óg), E Buckley (St Michael’s), S Beston (Mitchelstown).

WESTMEATH U21F: E Carberry; B Moran, K Sheridan, K Maguire; M McCallum K Martin, J Dolan; D Keenan, D Daly; A Corroon, C Lynam, G Egan; I Coffey, C McCormack, T McDaniel

WEXFORD U21F: R Farrell; M Furlong, S Gaul, C Carty; D Butler, J Leacy, J Breen; M O’Hanlon, M O’Regan; L Óg McGovern, E Kent, P Kelly; K O’Grady, K Kehoe, B Halpin.