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McCarthy returns to lead Cork attack for All-Ireland under-21 final

by Brendan Larkin
NOT surprisingly Timmy McCarthy is back on the Cork under-21 team for Sunday's glamour clash with Galway in the All-Ireland hurling championship final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
McCarthy missed out on the semi-final against Antrim because of club duty but the Castlelyons man returns to lead the Cork attack as the defending champions endeavour to put back-to-back titles together for the first time since winning four in a row, 1968-'70.
Glen Rovers John Anderson is the player to lose out. McCarthy's return means a few positional switches in attack.
Sean O'Farrell has been given the full-forward berth while Neil Ronan retains his place at right half-forward.
There is one positional switch in defence. Mark Pendergast swops places with Wayne Sherlock in the full backline.
Prendergast has been assigned the difficult task of marking Galway's ace corner-forward Kevin Broderick, a challenge that the Na Piarsaigh player will relish.
Sunday's final is a repeat of last year when Cork upset the odds by taking the title by a seven-point margin.
In fact these two counties have dominated the under-21 grade in the last three years winning one apiece. Galway claimed the title in 1996 after defeating Cork in the semi-final by four points.
Cork team coach Bertie O´g Murphy feels that Cork will have to be at their very best to get the better of Galway on this occasion.
"Last year we won with something to spare but Galway are going much better this season as was evidenced in their semi-final against Kilkenny. Having said that we have been going well also so Sunday's match should be a great contest.
"Cork have been in excellent form all season and were very impressive in all their games. The players have given a tremendous commitment all season despite the numerous demands on their time both at club and inter-county level.
"Our form in the Munster final against Tipperary was outstanding but I still feel there is more in this team.
Hopefully they can round off what has been a tremendous campaign so far for them with the ultimate prize.
"Already this year the minor All-Ireland and the national senior league title have been won, and if we could put back-to-back under 21 All-Ireland titles together, that would suggest Cork are not too far away from the main prize — the All-Ireland senior title.
"There is great talent in both teams for Sunday's final.
"Sean O´g O´ hAilpín is playing possibly his best hurling at the moment, while Joe Deane is scoring well up front.
"Likewise Galway have Kevin Broderick and Vinnie Maher is superb form all of which makes this final one to really look forward to," he added.
CORK: D. O´g Cusack; M. Prendergast, D. O'Sullivan, W. Sherlock; D. Barrett, D. Murphy, S. O´g O´ hAilpín; A. Walsh, L. Mannix; N. Ronan, T. McCarthy, M. O'Connell; B. O'Keeffe, S. O'Farrell, J. Deane. Subs. B. Rochford, W. Twomey, J. O'Dwyer, J. Anderson, B. O'Connor, J. Murphy, P. Sexton, T. Fitzgibbon, A. Coughlan, J. Kingston, P. Walsh.

Babs 'gave us a lift but
things went sour later'

by Jim O'Sullivan
IT may be the popular thing to do in Offaly, to find fault with Babs Keating since his controversial departure as manager following the Leinster final defeat by Kilkenny.
And, Keating himself is blamed for keeping the debate alive by critical comments made over the past month in his newspaper column.
One player not afraid to speak out in his favour — even if with slight reservations — is former dual star Michael Duignan, scorer of a marvellous point at the end of Sunday's Guinness All-Ireland final.
"When he came in last October, we were after having a few bad years. Babs gave a 'lift' to the thing,'' Duignan said. Straight away, he was talking about winning an All-Ireland.
"People should remember that Babs and Johnny Murray (who did the physical training) travelled up and down from Dublin all year.
"What happened then (after the Leinster final) was that things went a bit sour, after what he said.
"It was where he said it — outside the dressingroom — more than what he said. His comments should have been made in the dressingroom.
"Apart from that, lads would be disappointed that he had a go at us most weeks in the paper (Sunday Times) since.
"If he had 'let it go' after he retired there would not have been any hassle.''
Duignan said at a personal level 'he had nothing' against Keating, pointing out that he had often travelled with him from Dublin.
"As a person, I have great time for Babs. I'm sure that he will take a lot of satisfaction from Offaly's win. After all, he spent seven months with the team.
"I suppose at the time, we were not hurling that well. There was 'a little bit' missing. Maybe when he left, the whole thing spurred us into life. Some things he said were true at the time.
"Nevertheless, the dressingroom was the place for him to have made his comments. But, Babs is a passionate man about his hurling and, he has always been known to speak his mind.
"I would not have any bad feeling against Babs and I think that most of the lads wouldn't have either,'' he added.
Reflecting on the game, and his early move to defence, Duignan said: "I'm sure the Offaly supporters got the shock of their lives when they saw me moving to right half-back. But, I was as shocked as anyone.
"It took me a while to settle down. Brian McEvoy was having a good game. But, things went ok after that.
"This All-Ireland will always 'stand out' for Offaly. We had a long year and played eight matches. It would have been terrible to finish empty-handed. In 1994 (against Limerick), it 'just happened' and in '95 we lost.
Keating, incidentally, wrote 'before a ball was struck' he felt Offaly were a 'good' bet for the All-Ireland and that he 'had the courage of his convictions' to put money on them at 'a good price!'

D.J. Carey has his left leg in plaster after an x-ray yesterday confirmed that he had broken a bone in his foot in the game. It happened accidentally late in the first half in a throw-in with Hubert Rigney when, he said, he 'threw in' his foot.
Carey said he didn't want a 'fuss' being made about the injury.
"I wouldn't want people to think I was using it as an excuse for not playing well,'' he commented.

Kildare midfielder Niall Buckley has made a full recovery from injury and will be fit to play in the All-Ireland football final. And, full-back Ronan Quinn, who had keyhole surgery for a knee injury last week is recovering well and is also expected to be available for selection.

There is a way to shut
backdoor very fairly

IN THE course of the Offaly celebrations last Sunday night, I ran into one Marty Morrissey, surely the most popular man in Ireland!
From all corners, the fans came, young, old, male, female, sober, not-so-sober. "Begod Marty," sez I, "you could run for President!" such was the reception he was getting. But there was no idolatry here, no worship of any god, false or otherwise. To every one of those fans, Marty was a friend, one of their own, that's how they identified with him, and that's how they treated him.
"How's it goin' Marty?"
"What did you think o' that Marty?"
"There's a girl here Marty and she's mad to talk to ya...!"
Craic galore, and Marty lapped it up, this is his scene.
I like Marty meself. In everything he does in RTE, he reeks of GAA. His love and passion for the games shines out, this guy is genuine, a grassroots man. And it shows. As much as anyone else in the GAA, I think Marty is in touch with the ordinary GAA individual, and a voice worth a listen. So I got into conversation with the great man.
Now, everyone will know that I'm not a fan of this two-year experiment. And that I very much fear that when it comes up for review in a few short weeks time, at Congress, it will be made permanent. Therefore, it being that time of the year, I brought the subject up with Marty, and it made for a very interesting conversation.
Basically, I think the whole world agree that the All-Ireland hurling Championship as it existed up to a couple of years ago, badly needed an overhaul.
It was unfair, unbalanced, and usually gave us at least one All-Ireland semi-final a year that just wasn't up to scratch.
Munster and Leinster had decent provincial championships, with intense rivalries and enough competitive teams to make things interesting. Connacht and Ulster had no such depth.
What you then had in the All-Ireland semi-finals were the champions of Munster and Leinster with Galway and nine times out of ten, Antrim.
Now, for the All-Ireland series this was patently unfair, unbalanced, stupid. In how many other premier national championships, anywhere, would two of the four semi-finalists have virtually an unchallenged passage every year, while the other two each had the mother and father of battles to reach that same stage? It just made no sense.
So, change was undoubtedly needed. Now, the challenge was to open up the All-Ireland series. Make it more balanced, arrange for more competitive games. And to do that, you had to introduce more counties from Munster and Leinster to the All-Ireland series, since that's where most of the stronger hurling counties plied their wares. But it had to be done in a fair manner.
Marty has his own idea on how this could be done, but I don't think it's for me to outline it here, he's more than capable of doing so himself, in his own forum. I've already plugged a couple of ideas, but the more I talk about it, the more I refine it and here's the latest, thanks to Marty and Brian Whelehan.
Last week, in this paper, there was an outline of an idea from Brian, in which League standings would be incorporated into the All-Ireland series. He had a double-barrelled purpose to his proposal, and I agree with both.
The first principle, and I think this is also becoming universal, is that the All-Ireland series should become a separate competition, almost completely divorced from the provincial championships. Almost. To preserve the sanctity of the Leinster and Munster Championships, and a huge section of GAA fans want would be hugely disappointed to see those disappear, there would be an automatic semi-final berth reserved for the winners of those titles.
The second principle in Brian's proposal was to upgrade the importance of the League, by making final-place standings a qualifier for this new All-Ireland series.
I would like to add a little meat of my own to those proposals.
First, only the winners of Munster and Leinster have any automatic rights in this new series. No quarter-final entry for the losers, no back door.
This will ensure that there is no dilution of the final.
At this stage, you now need to fill two more semi-final places. Simple. Eight teams, taken from the final League standings of the most recently completed league, open draw, down to two. If the Munster and Leinster champions are in that top eight, simply move down the list.
A new high-profile draw, and plenty of high-profile games, all in the summer. The League also given new relevance.
I think it would work. I'm sure it would work.

Battle on for Munster right wing position between Lacey and Kelly

by Barry Coughlan
THE battle is on between John Lacey and John Kelly for the right wing position on the Munster team to play Padova in the European Cup at Musgrave Park on Saturday (2.30).
The number 14 spot is the only inconclusive section of the team for the big match following Munster's 21-7 victory over Connacht last weekend.
Each and every other area of the side has been left intact, despite problems which appeared to manifest themselves by the move from tight head to loose head prop of Irish International Peter Clohessy.
Still, while Clohessy didn't appear too happy in an unfamiliar position, John Hayes settled in well and it was decided, quite rightly, to give him a further opportunity to establish himself.
Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley, neither of whom finished the game after picking up injuries, are both expected to be fit and there are no alterations in the back division.
That means international scrum-half Brian O'Meara has to give way, yet again, to Tom Tierney who had a good game against Connacht.
The main worry in relation to the backline would appear to be the lack of drive in the three-quarter line. Nobody played badly against Connacht but scoring opportunities — two of them at least — were scorned because nobody outside out-half Killian Keane seemed capable of breaking the gain line.
Coach Declan Kidney will have his hands full to salvage something from a back division suffering from the loss of play-maker Rhys Ellison.
Their Italian opponents Padova are a team on the up. Dominant in the early days of the Italian Championship when they won the title eleven times between 1970 and 1987, they make their European Cup debut after finishing runners-up to Treviso last season.
Munster team manager Jerry Holland was present to see them make a scorching Italian Championship debut at the weekend and he is in no doubt they will pose the Irish side severe problems. Their team has yet to be announced but it does appear that it will include former All-Black Marty Berry who played at full-back on Sunday.
Leinster, meanwhile, prepare for their tie against Llanelli at Stradey Park and are expected to announce a panel of 23 players today.
Included in that group will be Irish international prop Reggie Corrigan who has recovered from injury. He will join the 22 players who were present for Leinster's superb victory over Ulster last weekend.
The Ulster team to meet Edinburgh Reivers at Ravenhill on Friday won't be finalised until tomorrow.

O'Sullivan aims to defend
at least one title in Belfast

by Brendan Mooney
SONIA O'SULLIVAN has set her sight on defending at least one of her titles at the World Cross-Country Championships in Belfast next March.
And this weekend she will be back in Cork for Sunday's Evening Echo Cork Ladies Mini Marathon which will be preceded by a civic welcome in her home town of Cobh on Saturday evening to celebrate her double victory at the European Championships in Budapest.
Her trip to Cork will be a prelude to the Great North Run in Gateshead on October 4.
"I ran it last year. But I just ran through it. They heard that I was in the crowd and they wanted me to come back and run at the front this year.
"It is just a way that I can just keep training but it is not really intense training. It just keeps me fit without coming to a complete stop at the end of the season."
The World Cross-Country Championships in Belfast are a priority for her although she had not yet made a final decision on whether or not she will defend both or just one of her titles.
"I am definitely planning on the World Cross-Country Championships in Belfast," she insisted. "You don't know what is going to happen between now and then but as of right now I intend to be right there on the line and I must admit I am looking forward to it.
"But I couldn't tell whether or not I will run both races. I have not seen the schedule yet.
"If it is a thing that I decide to run just one race then, obviously, my preference would be for the longer race but it will depend on how training goes leading up to it.
"I know the girls would want to me to run the long one. I feel that is where our best chance of winning team medals would lie.
"I know the girls are making plans back home. I hope it's the long race they are planning. It would be really good to win the team title and it is possible now. That would be fabulous."She is hoping that Ireland will have a gold medal-winning team in Belfast, pointing out that Catherina McKiernan's participation will be central to that.
"I was reading about her problems during the week. It was difficult for her but in a situation like that you just agree and then if something happens, then you can't run and that's it.
"Things usually work out in the end. It is much easier to operate that way.
"I can't see myself running too many cross-country races. I'll be going to Australia in November so I will be missing some of the big ones.
"I went to Australia in November last year and it worked out quite well.
"I will definitely go back to Falls Creek for some altitude training. I felt it was really good for me last year."She trains there with a group that includes Australian marathon runner, Steve Moneghetti, bronze medallist at the world championships in Athens last year.
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan is looking forward to coming home at the weekend and competing in the Evening Echo Cork Ladies Mini Marathon —a five-mile road race through the streets of the city.
"I enjoy the all-women's races. It is always great when you have so many women out there and there's supposed to be quite a few people running in it this year.
"I would hope that everybody will run and it also gives me an opportunity to come home to Cobh and the run in Cork is a bonus.
"It is always very well organised. I have not run it in a long time but I remember running it about three times back in the early days.
"I don't think I ever won the race but I finished fifth or sixth one time. I am looking forward to meeting all the fans in Cork."Meanwhile, she said she was delighted to take the 5,000 World Cup title in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"South Africa was great," she said. "I really enjoyed it. The result was perfect.
"It was really nice there for a few days only that it was very cold on the day of the race.
"The race itself was difficult. There were too many people in there. But you learn from every situation.
"I mean if you did everything perfectly you would wonder what should you do next.
"I made a few mistakes this year but I still came out of it pretty good. That gives me something to work on for next year. I can prepare and plan things."
She admitted that her sprint was there and agreed that if she was in contention with 200m to go in a race there were few women would stay with her.
"I just have to make sure that I am always there at that point," she said. "I have to make sure that I am strong enough to get out there and not let anybody get away from me."

Reid booked for Tara

by Pat Keane
JOHN REID yesterday secured the chance to complete a glorious Classic double when he was called up by Godolphin to partner Kayf Tara in Saturday's Irish St Leger at the Curragh.
Reid, who steered stablemate Nedawi to victory in last Saturday's Pertemps St Leger, benefits again because of another international fixtures clash.
Number one Godolphin jockey Frankie Dettori missed the St Leger to guide Swain to victory in the Irish Champion Stakes.
And this Saturday Dettori is travelling to France to partner the unbeaten Aljabr in the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp. A delighted Reid said: ''I ride Kayf Tara in the Irish St Leger, which is a race I haven't won before. It's great to be called in again and I'm hoping I can complete a memorable week.
''He will go on the soft ground and, fingers crossed, I have got a good chance.''
Kayf Tara, winner of this year's Gold Cup, will be trying to maintain the marvellous run of success Godolphin has enjoyed recently in Group One events.
Kayf Tara is one of six British-trained entries for the Group One contest at the Curragh.
The others are the John Dunlop-trained pair Celeric and Silver Patriarch, Memorise (Henry Cecil), Stretarez (Venetia Williams) and Delilah (Sir Michael Stoute).

Entries: Celeric, Kayf Tara, Memorise, Quws, Silver Patriarch, Stage Affair, Stretarez, Ungaro, Delilah, Ebadiyla, Afarad, Dragon Triumph, Enzeli, Star Begonia.

Meanwhile Brian O' Farrell of the Irish Independent Betting Office Association, which represents over 300 Irish betting shops, met yesterday with SIS and other major betting shop chains. O'Farrell said the discussions were "very constructive".
"Options agreed at the meeting will offer a better overall package for Irish betting shop customers than the Paddy Power deal appeared to offer," he said.
At Fairyhouse today Kings Banquet is napped to beat 27 rivals in the Old Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle.
The Supreme Leader gelding is the winner of two bumpers, but was always likely to come into his own once a set of obstacles were placed in front of him.
He rounded off last season with a game front running display here in early May.That followed on another gritty performance, also on this track, when he made virtually all to beat stable companion Native Dara by two lengths.
Kings Banquet clearly likes Fairyhouse and that, obviously, is encouraging. What is also encouraging is that he has already shown promise over flights when beaten a neck by Athleague Guest at Naas in February. Noel Meade is certain to have the selection in good order for this test and Kings Banquet should run a big race.
The opening Tolka Maiden Hurdle is best left to Aidan O'Brien's Chateau Royal. It has to be accepted he was largely disappointing on the flat this season, failing to score in nine attempts.
It is also a fact, however, that he is a high class recruit to the jumping game, leaving the level with a rating in excess of 100. Simulacrum has the best form over jumps, but Chateau Royal can outclass Dermot Weld's charge.

Carrigtwohill's rally
ends Courcey hopes

Carrigtwohill 1-19
Courcey Rovers 2-6
CARRIGTWOHILL qualified for the county section final of this year's Premier Minor hurling championship, sponsored by AIB Bank, when they defeated Courcey Rovers at Pairc Uí Rinn.
The teams were level on four occasions in the first half and except for some missed chances Courcey Rovers might have been in front instead of tied 0-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
With the aid of some shrewd positional moves in the second half and the introduction of Damien Cashman, who ended the game on 1-1, Carrigtwohill began to get on top.
They scored six points in eight minutes without reply and that proved to be the decisive factor.
Scorers for Carrigtwohill - Ml. Fitzgerald (0-7), N. McCarthy (0-5), D. Cashman (1-1), J. Barrett (0-3), S. McCarthy (0-2), S. Kennedy (0-1).
Courcey Rovers - N. Murphy (1-5), D. Twomey (1-0), T. Lordan (0-1).
Referee: D. Kirwin (Eire Og)

Carrigtwohill also beat Carrigaline by 1-13 to 1-5 in their Premier minor hurling league at Carrigtwohill.
The home team had the lions' share of the play in the first half. A goal from Aiden Lehane and a superb point from the sideline by John Ahern helped Carrigtwohill lead 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.
In the second half, Carrigaline responded with a goal after ten minutes to reduce the deficit to three points, 1-6 to 1-3, but again the home team hit back with points from John Ahern and Sean McCarthy to run out deserved winners.
Dromtariffe made the long journey to Youghal a fruitful one with a narrow 2-8 to 2-6 win.
A Declan O'Connor penalty hauled Dromtariffe back into the tie and they went in at half-time just 1-4 to 1-2 in arrears.
Youghal began the second half in style when Sean Barry got on the end of a David Hickey cross to slip the ball to the net.
Dromtariffe again hit back and with Colin Murphy, Kevin O'Mahony and Declan O'Connor coming more into it the scores started to come, mainly from the boot of Niall O'Sullivan, and a goal from John Duggan tied the game.
Two late points by John A. Browne secured the victory despite the best efforts of Youghal's Killian Coleman, Alan Fox and the hard-working Stephen Twomey.
Ballincollig had an easy 1-16 to 0-2 win over Youghal in their Premier Minor football quarter-final clash at Midleton.
They raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes with full-forward Colin Noonan getting the vital goal.
The game was all but over at half-time with Ballincollig 1-11 to 0-0 up and the second half was just a formality as Stephen Kenneally and Killian Swayne scored points for Youghal.

County add league to cup
triumph with easy victory

THE league champion's pennant continues to fly proudly over the Mardyke and Cork County are still the kingpins of Munster Cricket.
They preserved their status as the leading club in the province when adding the league title to their Cup crown with another facile win over C of I at the weekend.
This final league match of the season once again emphasised the difference between the teams and the gulf which separates the champions from their pursuers.
Paddy Tynan's team were virtually at full strength and that, in itself, made the outcome ominously predictable.
All over Cork County carried too many big guns, despite the endeavours of their opponents. The result puts Munster cricket under a microscope.
But it was a day for celebration in the Mardyke and a time for sober assessment in Garryduff. Incisive work by strike bowlers Keith Banks (4 for 9) and John Power (4 for 11) meant that the home batsmen would not be troubled, and an early run out of batsman in form Michael Wycherley hardly caused a ripple. Wycherley's season has been adorned with success and bowler Paul Upstone, too, has proved his prowess. The line and length bowling of Power and Gerry Bramble contributed enormously to another successful season, as both were again very prolific with the bat.
Nobody fields better than Shane Connole at cover and vice captain Stephen Hickey, with Garret Holland batting three, were always run getters when the chips were down. Add to these, the pace of Banks, the perception of Peter Coleman and the potential of Andrew Chambers represent a team that has much to offer Irish cricket. The captaincy of Paddy Tynan has been richly rewarding and he can take great kudos for his leadership as a player and tactician.
"In our hour of triumph," says Club President Sean Power, "we have much to ponder in how best to stimulate the interests of our players." That could see Cork County playing a greater role in Leinster League cricket while still participating full in the Munster programme of matches," he added.

Bishop is 'delighted'
new Decies patron

by John Murphy
A TIPPERARY man has succeeded a fellow county man as patron of the Waterford County Board of the GAA.
Dr William Lee, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, accepted the post with "honour, delight, and privilege" this week at a function attended by senior County Board officials including chairman Paddy Joe Ryan, secretary Seamas Grant and treasurer Tony Morrissey, together with Munster and Central Council representatives.
Bishop Lee, an avid GAA supporter all his life, succeeds the Bishop Emeritus of the diocese, Dr Michael Russell, who also attended the function and spoke of the "immense honour" it had been for him to be the Waterford GAA patron for so many years.
The new honorary life president is Mount Sion legend Pat Fanning, a former County Board and Munster Council chairman, and a man regarded as one of the great Presidents in GAA history.
He succeeds another Deise GAA legend, the late Declan Goode of Dungarvan, who died earlier this year. One of the "greats" of Waterford hurling, Mr Goode served as secretary of the County Board for a then record 33 years.
Confirming both appointments, county chairman Paddy Joe Ryan said this was a red letter occasion for the GAA in the Decies. He first thanked their former chairman, Dr Russell, and referred to his great love of the GAA games, and his deep involvement in the Association which included serving for a time at Board level in his native Tipperary.
The Waterford chairman said Dr Lee would be a very worthy successor as patron, steeped as he is in the finest traditions of the GAA.
"It is a great honour for everyone involved in Deise gaeldom that you have accepted our invitation to become County Board chairman," Mr Ryan added.
He went on to refer to Pat Fanning as the "father figure" of the GAA in Waterford, a gifted player and official, and one of the great GAA Presidents of our time.
Bishop Lee said it was an honour and privilege for him to become patron in his now adopted county, and he recalled the great exploits of the Deise senior hurlers this year when they came so close to winning the All-Ireland championship.
"That particular achievement can't be too more long delayed," the Bishop added.
Pat Fanning said the special honour for him being appointed honorary life president of the County Board was that he was succeeding his lifelong friend and GAA legend, Declan Goode.
"I am honoured, but I am also truly humbled by this recognition," Mr Fanning said. 

St. Paul's look a strong outfit

KERRY'S sole representatives in Super League Basketball - St. Paul's, Killarney - have announced details of their sponsorship for the coming season and their new signings. The club, for the fifth year in a row, will be sponsored by Kerry Spring and Gerard Coughlan spoke of his company's delight at being involved with the club for another season.
He said that the panel of players at their disposal this season was one of the strongest ever and he wished them every success. Club chairman Rory O'Flaherty spoke of St. Paul's association with Kerry Spring and not alone was the sponsorship invaluable to the club but he found that the personal interest that both Gerard Coughlan and Mike Murphy took in the teams affairs was exceptional.
Kerry Spring will have ex Garvey American Ricardo Leonard, who won a national league medal with the Tralee side in '96, in their ranks and he will prove a major force. Leonard spent the last two seasons in England playing with Chester Jets but having married a local in Tralee he has now decided to play basketball with Kerry Spring.
He will be joined a new American Jamal Chretien, a 6ft 6inch from Texas. He comes with a glowing reputation and hopes are high that he will compliment Leonard's inside game.
Blake Gage, who played last season with the club as their Bosman player, is now the player coach and he is looking forward to the team being successful this season. Kerry Spring have also landed a major coup in the signing Irish international John Teahan who has played all his basketball with Garvey's and won a national league medal with them in '96. He will be joined by his international colleague Vince Daly, while the signing of Brian Clernan from Castleisland will add strength to the squad.
Cormac O'Donoghue makes a welcome return to the game after taking a season off and he will be joined by regulars like Brian Clarke, Shane Horgan, James Fleming, James Weldon and David O'Flaherty. So O'Flaherty look to have a very strong panel this season. 

© Examiner Publications Ltd, 1998