Cork chase a hat-trick with their dream team

Gaelic Games News round-upCork will chase a third successive All-Ireland hurling title with their management team fully intact after county champions Newtownshandrum confirmed the nomination of Patsy Morrissey as one of John Allen's selectors.

Traditionally, the county champions are entitled to a member of the selection team, and Morrissey first came on board after Newtownshandrum won the title in 2003. Having regained the title this year, the club was entitled to a fresh nomination, and in the end there was little discussion about who would go forward.

"It's definitely Patsy Morrissey," said Newtownshandrum secretary Pat Guiney. "That was actually decided a while ago, and really only needed to be ratified."

Allen had stated his desire to keep his management team fully intact for another year. So Morrissey returns alongside Ger Cunningham, Joe O'Leary and Fred Sheehy for the 2006 season, with Allen acting as a manager for the second year.

As county champions, Newtownshandrum are also entitled to nominate the Cork captaincy. That, according to Guiney, is still up in the air and will ultimately be decided between the players. Jerry O'Connor, whose twin brother, Ben, captained the 2004 winning side, appears set to take over from Seán Óg Ó hAilpí(nominated last year by Na Piarsaigh), although defender Pat Mulcahy, who made a remarkable return to form this year after injury, is another candidate.

"We actually leave that to the players themselves," explained Guiney. "We'd only get involved if they have a problem deciding. Right now the players are concentrating on their Munster club match, so it hasn't been discussed yet. It probably won't be finalised until the players get back with Cork."

Kilkenny also allow their club champions to nominate the captaincy. Having defended their hurling title, James Stephens are deciding between Peter Barry, Eoin Larkin and Jackie Tyrrell.

"It will almost certainly go to one of those," said county secretary Pat Dunphy. "Unless for some reason none of them make the panel. In that case they may decide to nominate someone like Henry Shefflin."

Other counties, such as Armagh, allow the team management to nominate the captaincy and as expected Joe Kernan announced Paul McGrane would take over from the long-serving Kieran McGeeney, who stepped down from the position in the aftermath of this summer's semi-final defeat to Tyrone.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who plays with the Ballyhegan club, has previously stood in for McGeeney when he wasn't available and in fact joined him in the stands of Croke Park to collect this year's Ulster trophy.

McGrane's appointment was confirmed on Wednesday night, and he was the unanimous replacement for McGeeney, whose four years as captain saw Armagh win their first All-Ireland and National League titles.

All-Ireland champions Tyrone follow a similar policy and it's likely manager Mickey Harte will retain Brian Dooher as captain for another year.

The Clann na nGael player took over the role following the sudden death of Cormac McAnallen in March of last year. He had just been handed the responsibility following an injury to Peter Canavan.

If Harte does decide to change, Conor Gormley of two-time county champions Carrickmore would be the leading candidate.

Harte, meanwhile, received some good news yesterday as defender Ciarán Gourley has decided against surgery on a knee-ligament injury, and could be back playing in a number of weeks. It was originally feared Gourley could be out for as long as six months.

Elsewhere, the Dublin senior footballers have confirmed their participation in next year's O'Byrne Cup competition. Manager Paul Caffrey opted out last year as he felt he wasn't in the job long enough, and Dublin fielded an under-21 team instead. UCD will provide their first-round opponents next January, with the dates and venues of this week's draw to be confirmed.

O'BYRNE SF CUP DRAW: Dublin v UCD, Wexford v Wicklow, Meath v DCU, Westmeath v Carlow, Louth v DIT, Offaly v Kilkenny, Kildare v Longford, Laois v Athlone IT. Quarter-finals: Dublin or UCD v Wexford or Wicklow; Meath or DCU v Westmeath or Carlow; Louth or DIT v Offaly or Kilkenny; Kildare or Longford v Laois or Athlone IT. Semi-finals: Dublin, UCD, Wexford or Wicklow v Meath, DCU, Westmeath or Carlow; Louth, DIT, Offaly or Kilkenny v Kildare, Longford, Laois or Athlone IT.

WALSH CUP SH DRAW: Westmeath or Down v UCD, Laois v Kilkenny; Offaly v Antrim; Dublin v Wexford. Semi-finals: Westmeath, Down or UCD v Laois or Kilkenny; Offaly or Antrim v Dublin or Wexford.