NEWS ROUND-UP:THE GOOD news for Cork is their leader Graham Canty is expected to take the field at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Sunday's opening Munster championship outing against Clare.

Until recently, the Cork captain had not played any competitive football since November due to a recurring hamstring tear that saw him collapse in anguish just moments after striding forward to punch a point in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Roscommon last summer.

Canty has featured for his club the Bantry Blues and in victory over Laois in a challenge match last week.

Another veteran defender, Anthony Lynch, who missed all of last season due to a groin injury is not expected to start but does return as a viable alternative having lined out in recent A’s versus B’s training games.

Conor Counihan, however, must plan without Colm O’Neill (cruciate) for the entire campaign and, while Fintan Goold is unavailable this weekend, the Macroom forward should recover from an Achilles problem before the provincial semi-final against Waterford on June 5th.

John Miskella is also expected to be kept on the periphery against Clare after collapsing with a back spasm in the league final defeat of Dublin last month, while Eoin Cadogan, the only current high -profile dual player, is expected to focus on hurling due to the meeting with All-Ireland champions Tipperary on Sunday week. Paudie Kissane (groin) is another concern.

A team will be released tonight.

There is a warning for Cork in Sunday’s opening salvo. In 2008, the defending All-Ireland champions Kerry met Clare in their championship opener. It was supposed to be little more than a stretching of legs with more demanding challenges ahead.

It was Paul Galvin’s first outing as captain. The Clare defenders harassed, and probably goaded, Galvin until he boiled over. The moment of madness that followed with Paddy Russell’s notebook led to a 24-week suspension that cost Kerry dearly come the All-Ireland final that September against Tyrone.

“No matter who you are drawn against in championship football I always say you have a chance,” said Clare manager Michael McDermott yesterday. “In Munster you are either going to be drawn against Cork or Kerry eventually and Limerick are well up there with them. Waterford and Tipperary have made huge strides so in any game Clare will be under huge pressure to get a victory.”

In the same breath, McDermott does not feel a disappointing Division Four campaign, when they only finished ahead of Leitrim, London and Kilkenny – despite scoring 13 goals in eight games – has not damaged his players’ confidence levels.

“Going down to Cork we have nothing to lose. Looking around training this week I sense they are not under pressure to give that big performance. We know that without every player performing we don’t have a chance of competing.

“We are not looking for a moral victory – the players are really going to be up for this game.”