Mullane a doubt for clash with the Deise

FULL-back Conor Mullane is a late injury worry ahead of Limerick’s Munster senior football semi-final against Waterford.
The St. Senan’s man tore his hamstring in training last week and is “touch and go” to be fully fit for the June 6 tie in Fraher Field, Dungarvan.
Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan reports that all other front-line players are ready for action.
“It’s all systems go,” O’Sullivan told Leader Sport.
Limerick finalised their preparations with a challenge game against Sligo last weekend while Mickey Ned travelled to Waterford to see the home side advance past Clare last Sunday afternoon.
“They will be tough. They have played a game and to have a championship match under your belt is invaluable, as we saw last year,” explained Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
“They are on a high. They have only been beaten by Kerry by one goal in the McGrath Cup and by us in the league final. They were the only team to go through the league games unbeaten.”
A crowd of 2,100 saw Waterford emerge 1-10 to 0-9 winners over Clare last Sunday and a similar attendance is expected in two weeks time.
“They were in control all through the game and they are improving all the time,” said O’Sullivan of Waterford.
Johnny McCarthy, Stephen Lavin and Jim O’Donovan were the main injury concerns in recent weeks, but the trio are now back in full training.
John Cooke, Philip Corrigan and Barry Fitzpatrick won’t be considered for starting places in Dungarvan due to injury, but the management team are keeping their fingers crossed that Mullane will be fit.
“This is the most difficult team I have ever had to pick - in the backs and the forwards there will be lads disappointed because they won’t start.
“It’s a 20-player game now, but all players want to start of course.”
This weekend Limerick will travel to Dungarvan to familiarise themselves with the venue.
Dungarvan will bring back happy memories for five members of the current panel as Mark O’Riordan, Conor Mullane, Stephen Lucey, John Galvin and Conor Fitzgerald were all members of the 2000 Munster under-21 football winning side.
The Munster senior football championship semi-final of 2004 was the last championship meeting of the teams on a day when Liam Kearns’ side were 1-18 to 0-7 winners.
Mark O’Riordan, Johnny McCarthy, Padraig Browne, Stephen Lucey, John Galvin, Conor Mullane and Conor Fitzgerald all started that day and remain on the panel.

Jerome O’Connell