The Cork senior football final between Nemo Rangers and UCC has some interesting features, not least of which are that three Kavanagh brothers will figure for the Nemo side while the UCC team will have no fewer than 13 Kerry players on duty.
The three Kavanagh brothers are Joe, Larry (the captain), and Derek, the youngest of the clan.
Nemo Rangers first won the Cork championship in 1972 with a side that included Billy Morgan, Dinny Allen and Brian Murphy, all of whom went on to win All-Ireland medals.
UCC won the county title the following year with Kerry stalwarts Brendan and Paudie Lynch in their side. The sole link with that period in Cork football history is that Billy Morgan is now in charge of the Nemo Rangers team. Nemo will, however, have two All-Ireland stars in action: Steven O'Brien and Joe Kavanagh. artin O Cronin In addition, Martin Cronin, who played in this year's All-Ireland final against Meath, and Colin Corkery, who has considerable intercounty experience, are also in the Nemo line-up. Corkery also has experience of playing Australian Rules.
UCC will call on Ian Twiss, Michael D Cahill and Liam Murphy, all of whom played in the Kerry under-21 team, which was beaten in the All-Ireland under-21 final this year by Westmeath. Kildare champions Sarsfield's, take on Meath representatives St Peter's from Dunboyne in the quarter-final of the Leinster club championships on Sunday in Newbridge and hope to have a full squad on duty. There was some concern about the fitness of midfielder, John Whelan, who sustained a broken nose in last Sunday's National League match against Down. However, he has told the club selectors that he will play, which means that he will partner Dermot Earley at midfield.
Staying in Kildare, it appears that the Clane club is greatly annoyed about reports in the national media that their players had been withdrawn from Kildare's match against Down.
Clane club secretary Seamus Brady says there is no truth in the reports and that the club has always been proud of its relationship with the county team. Eddie McCormack, it appears, is out of the country, Martin Lynch is taking a break and Willie McCreevy has family commitments.
The report of referee Martin McBrien into the controversial Bellaghy v Castleblayney Ulster Club Championship second replay has been discussed at a meeting of the Activities Committee of the Ulster Council. As a result of the meeting in Monaghan on Tuesday night both clubs have been summoned to the next meeting. Peter Duffy of Castleblayney, who was sent off following the controversial late incident and Bellaghy's Danny Quinn have also been instructed to attend. By viewing a video of the incident the council will be seeking to identify at least one other person when the clubs attend. The Dublin Branch of the Roscommon Supporters Club have named their Roscommon team of the millennium.
Such exercises are difficult, but the Roscommon Supporters Club, local media and GAA personalities have named an interesting team which will be honoured at a special function in Roscommon town next March. Needless to say some great players of the past, who have established nation-wide reputations, are included.
These include goalkeeper Aidan Brady, Bill Jackson at left corner back, Bill Carlos at centre back, Phelim Murray at left half back, Gerry O'Malley at midfield, Dermot Earley, Jimmy Murray and Donal Keenan as the half-forward line and Tony McManus and Jack McQuillan in the full-forward line.
Roscommon team of the millennium: Aidan Brady (Elphin); Harry Keegan (Castlerea), Pat Lindsay (St Faithi), Bill Jackson (Tarmon); Brendan Lynch (Oran), Bill Carlos (Tarmon), Phelim Murray (St Patrick's); Eamon Boland (Tarmon), Gerry O'Malley (St Brigid's); Dermot Earley (Galvey's), Jimmy Murray (St Patrick's), Donal Keenan (Elphin); Tony McManus (Clanna Gael), Jack McQuillan (Ballyforan), John Joe Nerney (Boyle).
