Marc Ó Sé boosts Munster cause

Marc Ó Sé last night joined up with the Munster panel ahead of Sunday’s M Donnelly SF Interprovincial final against Ulster.

The Kerry defender attended training in Mallow alongside his brother and captain Tomás after missing last Sunday’s win over Leinster.

As they plan for the game in Armagh, manager Ger O’Sullivan said: “We knew that he was unavailable last weekend but that he would be committed if we got over Leinster, and that he would come on board if we needed him.”

Tipperary football board chairman Noel Morris insisted their players weren’t prevented from playing for the province in the competition.

All five other Munster counties are represented, but Morris told the county’s Tuesday board meeting that: “One player was out of bounds and the other two players weren’t interested.

“They weren’t denied the right to play for Munster.”

The Waterford Crystal Cup SH final between Clare and Tipperary has been fixed Sunday week in Sixmilebridge (1pm throw-in).

However, it’s likely to clash with the M Donnelly Interprovincial SH final between Leinster and Connacht scheduled for the same day.

Meanwhile, the protracted Seanie Johnston transfer saga could be ended by Cavan’s executive committee following Tuesday night’s hearing on the application.

The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) quizzed Johnston about his permanent residency and members of the panel were presented with a number of documents as evidence that he was living in Straffan.

These included confirmation that Johnston held a utility account for the address he is giving as his home, as well as a tenancy contract with his landlord.

As a result, the CCCC has opted to return the matter to Cavan, as it is they who raised question marks about the 27-year-old’s permanent residence and whether a transfer to St Kevin’s and Kildare would be within GAA rules.

Given the information presented and Woods’ declaration that Cavan would not stand in Johnston’s way if he could prove he was living in Straffan, the transfer looks certain to go ahead unless the Cavan board can disprove his residency claim.

Elsewhere, Laois manager Teddy McCarthy will have to plan without Zane Keenan for this year’s league and championship campaigns.

The Cork native had hoped Keenan might make a return to inter-county duty but is travelling to the US next month.

“He won’t be available to us this year,” said McCarthy, whose charges open their NHL Division 1B campaign with a stiff test against Offaly, at Tullamore on Sunday.