Fitzmaurice sympathises with fans over clash
ÉAMONN Fitzmaurice says that he has no problem with Kerry’s Super 8s opener against Galway clashing with the World Cup final tomorrow week. However, the Kingdom’s boss does have sympathy with those supporters who must choose between their game in Croke Park and the Moscow showpiece, which may yet include England. Fitzmaurice did make a of point of stressing that clashes such as these have happened before, and recalled how he was involved in a Kerry team that played in a Munster final on the same day that Ireland and Spain engaged in a penalty shoot-out during the 2002 World Cup. ‘So it happens all the time,’ Fitzmaurice said. ‘I think England have a lot of work to do before they get to that point [of reaching] the final. The draw is favouring them but I wouldn’t put my house on it. ‘From a supporters’ point of view, it isn’t ideal but whether it was two hours before or two hours after it, we would be in the bubble getting ready or travelling. ‘But I can understand when a World Cup final only comes around every four years that a supporter would like to be able to watch it, either coming into Croke Park or coming out of it.’ Fitzmaurice, who said that defender Shane Enright is back training but probably won’t be ready for Galway,
believes that the Super 8s system will be adjusted next year so Dublin won’t play twice at Croke Park. ‘For the most part, teams look it as a chance to get a game at Croke Park. What would be the alternative? Playing in Parnell Park, maybe. I am sure there will be little tweaks that will come into it after the first year.’ Meanwhile, both Galway and Kilkenny have named unchanged teams for tomorrow’s Leinster hurling final replay in Semple Stadium. It means that Micheál Donoghue has resisted the temptation to throw Johnny Glynn into his full-forward line while it also means that Brian Cody has broken from his usual habit in his managerial reign. The Kilkenny boss has usually rung the changes after a drawn championship encounter but insisted in Croke park last Sunday evening that he was pleased by the display of every player, and it seems that he has given his team a vote of confidence. Of course, whether that is the team that starts in Thurles, or not, remains to be seen. Unsurprisingly, Kildare boss Cian O’Neill has kept faith with the side that heroically defeated Mayo for tonight’s qualifier against Fermanagh in Navan. Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke makes one change from the side that beat Leitrim for tomorrow’s clash with Laois in Navan, Jack McCarron is named at fullforward in place of Tomas Kerr.