Kilkenny pair in late fitness race

Both Kilkenny and Clare are expected to announce their teams later today for the second All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday.

Leinster champions Kilkenny had their penultimate training session last night and manager Brain Cody and his fellow selectors will sit down this evening to name their final selection. Their only injury concerns centre on defenders Eamonn Kennedy and Tom Hickey who continue to get intensive treatment on the ankle injuries which both men suffered following the Leinster final win over Offaly.

Kennedy has been unable to train since hurting his ankle in training last week and the centre back is the most doubtful starter at this stage. Hickey, their regular corner back who was injured during the Offaly game, did participate in some training over the weekend but is not thought to be fully fit.

"We've another few days before we have to make a final decision," said Cody yesterday. "There is the possibility of leaving the vacant spot there but we'll keep the fingers crossed."

Clare manager Ger Loughnane, however, will be able to choose his best side possible as reports yesterday were that the entire panel are free of any major injury worries. Ollie Baker is fully recovered from the ankle injury which slowed him down after the Munster final defeat by Cork and is now "back to his best" while Jamesie O'Connor, although not quite 100 per cent, is improving by the day.

It is likely, therefore, that O'Connor will again be named at left half forward although Clare have continually changed their forwards in their five championship games this summer.

The most recent quarter-final replay win over Galway saw O'Connor move into corner forward before being replaced by Barry Murphy while P J O'Connell and Stephen McNamara were also replaced in the attack on that occasion by David Forde and Fergus Touhy respectively.

Scotstown, one of the strongest clubs in Monaghan, are reported to be still shocked after hearing the news that their minor team has been expelled from all competitions for the rest of the season.

The announcement was made after a special meeting of the Monaghan County Board on Sunday night and the expulsion follows three recent games involving Scotstown at senior, minor and under-14 levels. Two of these games were abandoned and the other involved the refereeing error in which he blew up the game two minutes early and had to restart it after protests from Scotstown officials. Latton, Scotstown's opponents in the minor game, were also expelled for the season and both clubs were fined £1,000.

Scotstown have one of the best championship records in Monaghan and are former All-Ireland championship runners-up. GAA president-elect Sean McCague is also a leading member of the north Monaghan club.