McGuire and Cox face busy weekend

Listowel Emmets duo Jack McGuire and Conor Cox are set for a busy 48 hours this weekend.

On Saturday the pair line out for their club in the 2014 North Kerry SFC final against Beale at O’Rahilly Park in Ballylongford. Twenty four hours later they are part of the UCC squad which opens their McGrath Cup campaign away to Limerick in Newcastle West. However, UCC officials have rejected claims they asked for the divisional decider, already delayed due a semi-final replay, to be pushed back again.

“As of now, we’re expected the players to be playing for Listowel on Saturday,” said UCC GAA Development Officer John Grainger. “Whether they play for us then on Sunday will depend on things like fatigue and/or injuries. The North Kerry final is normally held closer to Christmas but because of replays it has gone back further and we were aware of the possibility of a clash after Listowel drew their semi-final.

“When Saturday was suggested as the date, Conor Cox and Jack McGuire pointed out they had a UCC commitment on the Sunday but at no stage did UCC put any pressure on anyone to seek a postponement.”

Meanwhile, Cork goalkeeper Darren McCarthy has been selected at corner-forward for tomorrow night’s Canon O’Brien Cup fixture at the Mardyke. McCarthy served as Anthony Nash’s understudy in 2012 and 2013, but is set to ply his trade outfield this year. Manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has named a strong team backboned by nine players who lined out in last August’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Tipperary. Nash returns between the sticks, with Christopher Joyce, Stephen McDonnell, Lorcán McLoughlin and Aidan Walsh selected in defence.

Daniel Kearney resumes normal service around the middle, Seamus Harnedy, Bill Cooper and Patrick Horgan feature further forward.

CORK: A Nash (Kanturk); C Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), C Barry (Castlelyons), S McDonnell (Glen Rovers); C Murphy (Mallow), L McLoughlin (Kanturk), A Walsh (Kanturk); D Kearney (Sarsfields), J Coughlan (Newtownshandrum); S Harnedy (St.Ita’s), B Cooper (Youghal), B Lawton (Castlemartyr); D McCarthy (Ballymartle), P O’Sullivan (Cloyne), P Horgan (Glen Rovers).