Murphy insists Fitzgerald behind redevelopment

Cork county board secretary Frank Murphy last night insisted that Munster Council secretary Pat Fitzgerald was misquoted in recent reports that stated he had questioned the need to redevelop Páirc Uí Chaoimh as an all-seater high-capacity stadium.

It had been reported that in Fitzgerald’s annual address to the recent Munster Convention, the secretary had stated that with three grounds in the province already holding over 40,000 spectators, the redevelopment of the Cork grounds was redundant. However, Murphy responded to a query from a delegate at last night’s meeting of the Cork County Board by stating the secretary was always supportive of the board’s plan to redevelop the stadium.

“The secretary of the Munster Council was completely misquoted in this regard. I cannot understand how those comments were misinterpreted. The secretary has always been completely supportive of the stadium redevelopment.”

Meanwhile, Cork manager Conor Counihan expects to have a full squad to pick from for next Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 tie against Kerry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Counihan has a slight injury concern over defender Paudie Kissane but will have Eoin Cadogan, Mark Collins and Fiachra Lynch all available. Counihan has also admitted it is a boost to have captain Graham Canty available following his recent injury struggles.

“Paudie picked up a bit of a niggle but I don’t think it’s anything too serious, I’d expect that we’ll have a full squad to pick from,” said Counihan.

“In fairness to Graham, he’s worked very hard and it’s never been a problem in terms of hard work, it’s just been a bit of bad luck. Things are going well for him at the minute. It’s important for any player, if you’re in and out of the team with injuries it’s difficult enough to maintain your confidence and maintain your fitness.”

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor will be without full-back Daniel Bohane as he is facing up to four weeks on the sideline after undergoing minor knee surgery in Dublin yesterday.

The Austin Stacks clubman injured his knee near the end of the first half in Kerry’s league victory over Donegal in Killarney last Sunday, and following a scan yesterday Bohane underwent minor cartilage surgery to clear up what a source described as “wear and tear”.

Bohan will now sit out Kerry’s two next league games — away to Cork this Sunday and at home to Laois the following week — while he will be in a race against time to be fit for the Kingdom’s final league match at home to Mayo on April 8.