Cooney forecasts exciting campaign

GAELIC GAMES 2009 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP:SEVERAL COUNTIES are capable of rising to the challenge of beating Kilkenny in the upcoming hurling championship, according to GAA president Christy Cooney. At the launch of the 2009 championship in Kilkenny yesterday, Cooney also said the issue of ticket prices may be examined as the competition progresses, depending on attendance figures.

“I fully expect to see competing counties rising to the challenge of trying to topple Kilkenny,” said Cooney, “and if last weekend’s activity is anything to go by, hurling supporters can anticipate another exciting and dramatic summer of activity.

“I also believe that the involvement of both Antrim and Galway in the Leinster championship will provide a new dynamic, not just to that competition, but to the championship as a whole.”

Cooney added that the league showed there is no cause for concern in relation to attendances, yet admitted any significant drop during the championship could lead to a re-evaluation of prices during the summer.

“Prices are there but let’s see. We’re not going to make a judgment call today as to what we’re going to do. We’re conscious of our supporters. They were fabulous throughout the National League and we reduced our prices for the National Football League final in recognition of the support we got.

“We always recognise the needs of our supporters and the value of money and particularly in difficult economic times. So we’ll continue to observe, to review and look at what we must do into the future.”

Meanwhile, Brian Dooher has returned to near full fitness ahead of Tyrone’s opening defence of their All-Ireland football title in just over three weeks’ time. Dooher hasn’t played for Tyrone since his heroic display in last September’s final, but is now on course for another influential role this summer.

The 33-year-old sat out the NFL as he recovered from a groin operation, but having come through his first full club game with Clann na nGael last Friday, where he scored two points, Dooher is now back to full training with the Tyrone panel.

Tyrone face a hugely difficult opening test to that All-Ireland defence against Armagh on May 31st. That game, originally fixed for Tyrone’s home ground at Healy Park in Omagh, was last month switched to Clones, in order to cope with the greater demand for tickets.

Manager Mickey Harte had made repeated requests for the match to be switched to Croke Park, but in the end the Ulster Council settled on Clones – which has a capacity of 33,000, compared to the 18,500 at Healy Park.

Dooher’s timely return helps make up for the news that defender Cathal McCarron won’t be available for the Armagh game having been handed a 12-week ban arising from an incident with the match referee when playing with his club, Dromore, last month.

Beaten All-Ireland finalists Kerry have also got a pre-championship boost as seasoned forward Eoin Brosnan this week returned to training with the county panel, having taken an extended break from the game which saw him miss out on the league.

John Walsh, younger brother of forward Tommy, was another of the new faces called in for a pre-championship run as manager Jack O’Connor casts his net a little further in the quest to find the strongest possible championship panel.

Doubts that forwards Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh would be fit for Kerry’s championship opener against either Cork or Waterford on June 7th have also been dismissed by O’Connor.

Both players missed the first round of the county championship over the weekend, with Donaghy currently on crutches after sustaining a slight chip in the bone of his foot – but he is expected to be back to full training within the next two weeks.

Walsh picked up a hamstring injury during Kerry’s recent league victory over Derry but is likewise expected back within the next fortnight, as is former captain Paul Galvin, who has a groin problem. It means the most pressing injury concern for O’Connor is midfielder Séamus Scanlon, who is unable to train at present due to an ankle ligament strain.