UCC boss accepts loss of Crokes pair

UCC manager Paul O’Keeffe has revealed they never entertained the prospect of persuading Johnny Buckley and Daithí Casey to line out for the third-level outfit in the forthcoming Munster Club SFC.

Cork champions UCC face Monaleen in next Sunday’s provincial opener in Cloughduv but will be without the Dr Crokes duo who will be in action for their club in the same competition next Sunday against Ballinacourty in Dungarvan. And O’Keeffe insists they would never attempt to force players to choose the college over their clubs.

“We couldn’t do that to players, it just wouldn’t be right. Everyone involved in UCC has their own club and you couldn’t ask a player to line out in a competition against his own club. That is our ethos as a college and once we won the Cork championship, we knew we wouldn’t have the two lads in the Munster championship if they won their own title in Kerry.