Murphy part of Cork forward planning

NICHOLAS MURPHY will continue in his forward position for Cork in Sunday’s Munster final against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds.

Manager Conor Counihan has named Murphy in the corner. He wore the number 14 jersey for the semi-final win over Kerry.

It is the same starting XV from the semi-final win over Kerry where Murphy was expected to partner Alan O’Connor in midfield, with Aidan Walsh on the forty.

It’s been 63 years since the teams last met in a Munster final; the last of their three Munster final meetings was back in 1949 when Cork won by 3-6 to 0-7 in Limerick.

It has been an incredibly long wait for their next meeting in the decider but has finally come about after Clare beat Limerick, and Cork beat Kerry in the semi-finals.

Cork are seeking their 37th Munster title, however Clare are chasing their third, having previously triumphed in 1917 and 1992.

In hurling, David Collins has been passed fit to play for Galway in Sunday’s Leinster hurling final against Kilkenny in Croke Park.

Collins, who missed the quarter-final and semi-final wins over Westmeath and Offaly respectively with an ankle injury, has made a full recovery and will be in contention for a starting place against Kilkenny.

With Joe Canning and Cyril Donnellan also back to full fitness, Galway will have a full deck to pick from.

They will announce their team after training this evening.

Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin is expected to recover from an ankle injury to take his place but there are question marks over the availability of JJ Delaney, Colin Fennelly and Paul Murphy.

Delaney picked up a finger injury and had to come off against Dublin and there’s no certainty of his availability.

Colin Fennelly picked up an injury that day and hasn’t trained since.

Meanwhile, Conal Keaney looks certain to miss Dublin’s All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Clare tomorrow with a hamstring injury.

The Ballyboden St Enda’s dual star was forced to retire with the problem after only 15 minutes of Dublin’s heavy Leinster SHC semi-final defeat to Kilkenny last month.

Dublin manager Anthony Daly also has doubts about Conor McCormack – who picked up a dead leg on Saturday.

Joey Boland and Ryan ODwyer have both declared themselves fit.

CORK (SFC v Clare): A Quirke, R Carey, M Shields, E Cadogan, P Kissane, G Canty, N O’Leary, A O’Connor, A Walsh, C Sheehan, P Kelly, P Kerrigan, C O’Neill, D O’Connor, N Murphy.