Corbett and Delaney likely to accept one-game bans over league final red

Tipperary’s Lar Corbett and Kilkenny’s JJ Delaney are expected to accept one-game suspensions that will rule them out of their respective championship openers on June 9th in the wake of Sunday’s red cards in the National Hurling League final at Nowlan Park.

Corbett is already a doubt for the Munster championship opener against Limerick at the Gaelic grounds having sustained two broken ribs in Sunday's National Hurling League final. Westmeath referee Barry Kelly showed the pair straight red cards for fighting in the 45th minute.

Tipperary officials are awaiting Kelly’s match report before contesting or accepting a proposed ban. Chairman Seán Nugent said: “You have to look and see was he wronged. If we feel, as a county board, he was, we’ll look at appealing his red card.”

"Lar would be a huge loss, but you've seen the way that Eamon (O'Shea)is picking the team – he's picking the 15 form players for the start and there has been five or six changes for every game," said Brendan Maher, one of Tipperary's few scoring successes on Sunday, notching up 0-4 from midfield in the 2-17 to 0-20 defeat.

O’Shea withdrew four of his starting six forwards as they only registered 0-5 from play.

"There are other lads there that will be mad chomping at the bit to get the place. It will be disappointing for Lar, but we'll see what way the appeal goes. I didn't see it myself.

Negatives
"We were happy with the way we battled and obviously there were negatives there as well. We didn't create enough goal threat and we didn't push on when we got to within two points or a point of them to get over the line. we'll have to try to take the positives too and build on them. It's about moving forwards from here, getting out to the field again on Tuesday night and working hard."

Delaney is due to miss Kilkenny’s Leinster championship opener against Offaly in Tullamore. The 31-year-old’s anticipated loss from the Kilkenny defence could be offset by Henry Shefflin’s return. The three-time hurler of the year, including 2012, has resumed training after foot surgery.

The most obvious positive for Kilkenny last Sunday was Michael Fennelly’s 2-3 when switched from midfield into the injured Richie Power’s usual centre forward role.

“He came up trumps,” said younger brother Colin, who captains Kilkenny this season.

“He was playing centre forward for the club (Ballyhale Shamrocks) the week before as well and he came up trumps there too.

“He got a goal and two or three points for the club. He’s having a good run at centre forward.

“I think he played there for a little while about five years ago and it didn’t go too well.

"His presence inside is a big thing – it has been a big thing for the club and he is bringing it in to the county."

Cody's presence
In his acceptance speech, Fennelly mentioned that Brian Cody's presence is still being felt around the Kilkenny team, even though the manager is recuperating after minor heart surgery.

“He’s always there and you’d always be looking around for him!

“If you’re not moving he’ll get you moving. He’s always in the back of our heads and that’s a good thing, I suppose.”