Collins’ charges on guard against Geaney threat

CLARE must keep Paul Geaney in check to have any chance against Kerry on Sunday, according to the Banner manager Colm Collins.

Geaney kicked eight of Kerry’s 20 points as his side toppled Dublin in the league final, and after accumulating another eight against Clare in last season’s championship, Collins is well accustomed to the Dingle man’s class in front of the posts.

But Collins knows that danger lurks in many corners against the top teams.

“Paul Geaney is a super forward,” said Collins. “He’s well able to win his own possession and then he’s deadly accurate with both feet. He’s very agile, I mean he’s a class player, no question or doubt about it. He’ll demand marking and it’ll be a tough job whoever is on him for 70 minutes. But that’s what you are up against when you come up against teams like Kerry, those kind of players are going to be scattered all over the pitch.

“We have to match them, and then that’s it, no more about it. We’ll hope we can try and minimise his inf luence on proceedings on Sunday. But it won’t be easy.”

Elsewhere, Roscommon boss Kevin McStay says they have a number of injury worries as they prepare for a Connacht semi-final against Leitrim on Sunday week.

Tom Corcoran (collarbone), Ciaran Cafferkey (cruciate), Cathal Compton (hamstring), Ultan Harney (back) and Kevin Higgins (knee) all look set to miss the clash at Dr Hyde Park.

Fergal Lennon is also a doubt but in-form Strokestown sharpshooter Colin Compton has been called up to the squad, while vice-captain Seanie McDermott has recovered from a dead leg.

However, McStay believes his team has lost some vital depth and it will be a massive test against Leitrim. “Tom Corcoran with a broken collarbone it’s obviously September-ish before he’ll be back,” said McStay. “That hurts the squad.”