Cork’s inter-county stars turn to club matters

Nine of the Cork panel involved in last Sunday’s Allianz Football League defeat to Kerry will shift their attention to domestic action tonight for the start of the divisional and colleges section of this year’s Cork SFC.

Three games are down for decision and Rebels boss Conor Counihan will be hoping his players emerge unscathed as they face their second tie in three days and get set for next Sunday’s Division 1 trip to Elverys MacHale Park in Castlebar to face Mayo in a game crucial to Cork’s aspirations to reaching the knockout stages of this year’s league.

Defensive duo Ray Carey and Paudie Kissane and attacker Colm O’Neill will be involved with Avondhu, semi-finalists last season, as they face Cork IT in Fermoy at 7.30pm.

The students can call on the services of Brian McGuire, who was a wing-back on the Kerry team.

In addition James Walsh, Pa Kilkenny and Mark Griffin, who were all part of the Kerry U21 side that defeated Tipperary in their Munster championship opener last Wednesday night in Thurles, are all available to the third-level outfit.

Elsewhere Cork quartet Noel O’Leary, Fintan Goold, Liam Shorten and Sean Kiely are all part of the Muskerry squad that face Imokilly in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.30pm.

Muskerry are without the injured Daniel Goulding while defensive pair Eoin O’Mahony and Rory Buckley are involved with UCC in this year’s championship.

The final opening round encounter tonight sees Duhallow, who will be spearheaded by county players Aidan Walsh and Donncha O’Connor travel to Dunmanway to face Beara, where throw-in is at 7.30pm.