TEAM NEWS:JUST WHEN it seemed Kerry were returning to full strength in time for Sunday's second round qualifier draw they've been hit with another major setback; the likely loss of Tadhg Kennelly for at least a few weeks after the former Australia Rules star cracked a bone in his ring finger at training on Tuesday.
Kennelly will travel to the Santry Sports Clinic today for a more thorough diagnosis of the injury, but it’s of obvious concern to manager Jack O’Connor, particularly as Kennelly was one of the few Kerry players to shine in both games against Cork last month.
It seems certain he’ll miss Kerry’s first qualifier match on Saturday week, July 11th, and even if Kerry come through that he’ll do well to be back for the third round just a week later, July 18th.
It follows Eoin Brosnan and Mike Frank Russell’s decision to opt out of the panel, while Paul Galvin will be suspended for the first qualifier match having being red-carded in the replay against Cork. On the positive side, Kieran Donaghy, Marc Ó Sé, Killian Young and Anthony Maher are all back to full training.
Meanwhile, Monaghan-man Tommy Freeman’s long-running disciplinary saga continues as he is to seek a hearing with the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) in a final effort to have his eight-week suspension overturned and thus allow him to line out in Saturday’s crunch qualifier against Armagh.
Freeman received the eight-week ban following an incident involving Kevin McGuckin during Monaghan’s Ulster quarter-final defeat to Derry on May 24th.
But, after appearing before the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee (CHC) and on Tuesday night the Central Appeals Committee (CAC), he was told yesterday his ban would stand.
Freeman argued that the referee hadn’t dealt with the incident, and that the CCCC therefore didn’t have the right to commence disciplinary action. But a statement from Croke Park confirmed otherwise, that in “accordance with Rule 155 (c) (iii) T.O. 2008”, the CAC decided it is not possible to “appeal against the decision to commence disciplinary action”.
Limerick, meanwhile, welcome back Stephen Kelly for Sunday’s Munster football final showdown against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
It will be Kelly’s first championship appearance this summer as he was ruled out thus far with a broken thumb. He replaces Jason Stokes at full forward.
Manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan has made three further positional switches, with Cormac Joyce-Power moving to centre forward, Ger Collins to right corner forward, and Ian Ryan to left corner forward.
Tipperary take on Louth in the football qualifiers with four changes from the team that lost to Limerick back in May.
Both Ciaran McDonald and Robbie Costigan return from injury, while Kevin Mulryan gains a starting position at midfield.
Matthew O’Donnell is also chosen in goal in place of Paul Fitzgerald.
Donegal manager John Joe Doherty has made five changes from the side which lost out at home to Antrim for their meeting with Carlow. Both Ciaran Bonner and Neil Gallagher are reportedly dropped for disciplinary reasons.
Frank McGlynn replaces Gallagher in the full-back line, while Christy Toye now partners Kevin Cassidy at midfield in place of Brendan Boyle.
Leo McCloone and David Walsh come into the half forward line at the expense of Bonner and Michael Hegarty, while Stephen Griffin come in at left corner forward in place of Colm McFadden.
LIMERICK (SF v Cork):S Kiely; J McCarthy, S Gallagher, M O'Riordan; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranaghan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, C Joyce-Power, S Buckley; G Collins, S Kelly, I Ryan.
DONEGAL (SF v Carlow):P Durcan; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, E McGee, M Maguire; C Toye, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh, L McCloone, D Walsh; C Dunne, M Murphy, S Griffin.
TIPPERARY (SF v Louth):M O'Donnell; P Codd, C McDonald, C Higgins; C Aylward, H Coghlan, R Costigan; G Hannigan, K Mulryan; S Carey, P Austin, B Fox; B Mulvihill, B Coen, B Grogan.
