O'Rourke and Clancy available for replay against Kerry

By Peter McNamara

John O’Rourke and Tom Clancy will be back in the selection mix for Cork in the Munster SFC final replay having recovered from shoulder and ankle injuries respectively.

Selector Don Davis has said the Rebels will have a full deck to choose from in Fitzgerald Stadium next Saturday, boosted by the fact both O’Rourke and Clancy have been declared fit again.

Clancy’s unavailability robbed Brian Cuthbert of a viable defensive option so far in the Championship.

However, the Clonakilty clubman has been passed fit and could feature for the Leesiders in Killarney.

“Tom, thankfully, has regained full fitness,” Davis explained. “The ankle was causing him trouble for a while but it has come right again.

“He will be raring to go if selected the next day but, of course, competition for places on our panel is really good at the minute.”

O’Rourke suffered a shoulder injury in the Allianz League final against Dublin.

Like Clancy, O’Rourke had been an integral component of Cork’s squad prior to sustaining the knock.

Davis is delighted the management team now have a full complement of players to select from as they aim to dethrone defending provincial champions Kerry in their own backyard.

“With John back sharp again too we have a fully-fit panel and we’re really happy to have it that way, obviously.

“Everybody has been incredibly positive since the drawn match but we also understand that the job is not yet done.

“I’m sure both teams will have fresh dimensions in the replay,” he added.