Availability of players a telling factor for opener

ONLY three of the Cork Constitution team that lost to Shannon in the AIB League final in May are included in the side for the opening game of the new season against Galwegians at Crowley Park, Galway, tomorrow.

They are Derek Dillon, Ultan O’Callaghan and Jerry Murray and, in fact, only wing-forward Murray will be lining out in the same position. Dillon moves from wing to full-back and O’Callaghan from number eight to the second-row.

Galwegians, for their part, will field virtual unknowns in their line-up, with as many as nine of their squad involved in tonight’s Celtic League tie away to Glasgow.