Kerry unleash big guns

GAA: Despite the worries surrounding the fitness of captain Tómas Ó Sé, Kerry manager Jack O'Connor was able to unleash his strongest team for Sunday's Munster football championship showdown with Cork in Killarney.

However, his counterpart, Billy Morgan, doesn't have a similar luxury. Colin Corkery and Brendan Ger O'Sullivan are still suffering the consequences of last year's red cards during Cork's capitulation at the hands of Roscommon in the qualifiers. Both are suspended.

Philip Clifford's knee injury and Anthony Lynch's shoulder damage also rule them out.

For O'Connor, it was a lot more straightforward. Ó Sé and Johnny Crowley are injury concerns but both were selected after last night's session. Ó Sé's ankle is still a concern.

"We obviously have a couple of niggling injuries at the moment with John Crowley being in difficulty since the Clare game, but he took full part in football over the weekend, so it looks promising enough for him," said O'Connor.

The Kerry team is familiar but it has several changes from last year's campaign, with the mark of Jack O'Connor clearly evident. Seamus Moynihan is finally getting a championship start at wing back, where his presence will be more keenly felt. This allows Mike McCarthy to take over at full back. Also, Crowley has come back into favour during this year's National League.

O'Connor was disappointed with the performance against Clare in the opening round of the championship, especially considering the high standards set by their success in the league.

"The league final against Galway was very free-flowing and was nice football, but maybe there was not enough tightness or physical contact that you associate with championship football. The game in Ennis was a good introduction to championship football for us and hopefully it will stand to us.

"Obviously our performance dipped against Clare, there is no doubt about that, but I am sure that the lads will pick it up for the Cork game."Still Kerry will start as clear favourites.

Morgan must blood four new recruits. Illen Rovers' Kevin O'Sullivan takes over from Corkery at corner forward with Diarmuid Hurley, Conor McCarthy and Gary Murphy also coming in. Graham Canty has been selected at midfield alongside Hurley and their battle with Darragh Ó Sé and William Kirby will be one of the highlights.

Kerry centre back Eamonn Fitzmaurice is quietly confident: "I think the team as a whole has probably improved defensively this year and with the half forwards tracking back tackling, the forward line have improved their tackling as well, and this has helped out the backs big time."

"It's a case of so far so good and I suppose we have not conceded any big scores in any game yet, but it is early days yet and it is a big game next Sunday. We have to be tuned in for the challenge from Cork. We cannot afford to give the Cork lads time and space or our defensive record will go out the window."

Meanwhile, Waterford have named their starting selection for the other semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds, also on Sunday. Several of last year's under-21 Munster championship-winning side have been selected, notably, Shane Walsh at full forward, Edmund Rockett at full back, Niall Hennessy and Liam Ó Lonain at right corner forward.

Billy Hearty is on the bench after just recovering from injury, as is team trainer and former intercounty hurler Peter Queally. There are no dual players in the panel with the obvious absentee because of hurling commitments being Michael Walsh.

The county champions Stradbally have four representatives including captain Ger Power.

Limerick will select tomorrow after training. According to PRO John Ryan, there are a number of injury problems with main concerns centring on goalkeeper Séamus O'Donnell, Jason Stokes and Mike O'Brien.

CORK (SF v Kerry): K O'Dwyer; S O'Brien, D Kavanagh, N O'Leary; O Sexton, M Cronin, G Murphy; D Hurley, G Canty; A Cronin, C O'Sullivan, C McCarthy; C Crowley, M Ó Cronín, K O'Sullivan.

KERRY (SF v Cork): D Murphy; T O'Sullivan, M McCarthy, A O'Mahony; T Ó Sé (capt), E Fitzmaurice, S Moynihan; D Ó Sé, L Kirby; L Hassett, D O'Sullivan, E Brosnan; C Cooper, J Crowley, M F Russell.

WATERFORD (SF v Limerick): P Hoolahan; J Moore, E Rockett, T Costello; C Watt, T Dunphy, N Hennessy; K O'Keefe, A Hubbard; J Hearne, M Ahern, J Coffey; L Ó Lonain, S Walsh, G Power (capt).