Cork will field the same team that beat Meath in the National League semi-final for the final against Dublin in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday. Worries about the fitness of right corner back Micheal O'Donovan were dismissed at the training session last night and he is included in his usual right corner back position.
O'Donovan limped off the field with a knee injury in the second half of the Railway Cup final against Connacht in Tuam last Sunday and there were fears that he would not be fit. Intensive treatment has turned the situation around, however, and he took a full part in training at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last night.
The agreement by Dublin to travel to Cork for the match represents a throwing down of the gauntlet to the Munster team and the outcome of the match will be observed with considerable interest throughout the country with a view to what may transpire in the championship. Dublin are still worried about the condition of Ian Robertson, who has missed recent matches because of a serious problem with a groin strain. In the two matches against Armagh, Robertson was unable to play in his normal role at centre half back.
His place in the central position has been filled by Paul Curran, who has moved in from the wing, with Thomas Lynch replacing Curran on the left flank of the half back line.
The Dublin team will not be announced until tomorrow evening, but the likelihood is that the selectors will wait until later in the week to give Robertson every chance of making the final line-up.
Also in contention for a place is Jason Sherlock. His appearance in the blue jersey has frequently been intruded upon by his commitment to soccer, but with the domestic league soccer season over, he has indicated that he is available for Sunday. A substitute against Armagh in the drawn match, he could yet play a significant role in Dublin's effort.
Dublin's last appearance in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on such a significant occasion was in 1983 when they travelled there for a replay of an All-Ireland semi-final which was brought about by a spectacular goal by Barney Rock in Croke Park.
Dublin fans travelled in considerable numbers on that occasion and, in a memorable match in which Joe McNally scored one of the best goals ever seen on a GAA pitch, Dublin won and went on to beat Galway in what was a controversial final. This weekend also sees the start of the football championship and Longford have brought in seven players who will be playing in the competition for the first time for their Leinster preliminary round match against Wexford at New Ross.
A major reappraisal of their defence sees a new goalkeeper and a completely new full back line. Into to the side for their first championship appearances come John Joe Reilly in goal, Martin Mulleady at right corner back, Donal Ledwith at full back and Robert Forbes on the left. In attack, Derek Farrell, at right half forward, Paul Barden, at left half forward, and Terry Drake, at right corner forward, are also introduced.
There are seven changes in personnel from the team which was beaten by Westmeath in the corresponding match in the championship last year.
Veteran Dessie Barry is one of those to miss out. Barry has been one of the most devoted and consistent players for Longford for something like a decade, but he is included among the substitutes for Sunday and is expected to make an appearance at some stage of the match.
Meanwhile, Wexford's hurling management team are seriously concerned about the condition of Eugene Furlong, who suffered a severe eye injury in a challenge match against Waterford last Sunday. The match was played as part of an opening ceremony for a new pitch for the Cushinstown club near New Ross. Furlong was involved in an accidental collision with one of the Waterford players and spent the night in hospital but was released the following morning. The medical advice seems to be that there is not likely to be any permanent damage to his sight, but he is advised that he should not play for at least a month.
If that proves to be the case, it would rule him out of Wexford's opening match in the Leinster championship against Dublin on May 30th.
Furlong will be given every opportunity to make a full recovery before being considered again.;
Cork (SF v Dublin): K O'Dwyer; M O'Donovan, S Og O hAilpin, A Lynch; C O'Sullivan, O Sexton, M Cronin; M O'Sullivan N Murphy; A Dorgan, J Kavanagh, P O'Mahony; P Clifford, Mark O'Sullivan, A O'Regan. LONGFORD (SF v Wexford): J J Reilly; M Mulready, D Ledwith, R Forbes; C Keogh, F McNamess, T Smullen; D Hannify, E Barden; D Farrell, C Hannify, C Barden; T Drake, N Sheridan, P Davis. Subs: G Tonry, M Muleady, D Barry, S Carrolle, J Fitzpatrick, B Burke, C Conefroy, M Lennon, E Ledwith, G Johnston, D Roughan.
Limerick (MF v Clare, Ennis, this evening): D Holmes, S Barrett, N Shanahan, P McCarthy, P O'Dea, E Mulcahy, E Keating, A Burke, D Fitzgerald, D Long, M Keane, M Maunsell, M Scully, S O'Donnell, JP Aherne.
