56ee2013-02-20e0

User:rorynoonanDate:20/02/2013Time:11:11:49Edition:20/02/2013Wedwedecho200213Page:56Color:

EE - V1

Ryan blasts those who send anonymoustexts criticising team to radio stations

LAY OFF our GAAstars.

That was the messagefrom Bob Ryan at lastnight’s board meeting, asthe Cork County Boardchairman blasted peoplewho send in text mes-sages to local radio sta-tions slating players andmanagement teams.

At the board meeting,Ballinhassig delegateWillie Coleman be-moaned the fact thatnameless texts criticisingCork players and man-agement are read out onlocal radio.

Board chairman BobRyan agreed, describingthe sending of such textsas “a horrible, cowardlyact” and saying thosewho send them should bebrave enough to put theirnames to them.

The make-up of theCork hurling panel has

been a huge talking pointin recent months, espe-cially with Seán Óg retir-ing, and John Gardinerand Donal Óg axed fromthe panel.

The hurling selectors’judgement has beenquestioned by some sup-porters on Leeside andhas generated a consider-able amount of feedbackon local radio.

Meanwhile, a com-plaint last night fromJames Hubbert (CarberyRangers) regarding thenaming of dummy teamsfor national leaguegames also drew generalagreement.

The Cork footballershave rarely started withthe same 15 named in thebuild-up during theConor Counihan era.● See P53 for more.

Jackson to start aheadof O’Gara against Scots

GAA

Lay off ourhurling stars

UCC’s William Egan on the charge past CIT’s Daire Lordan during their Fitzgibbon quarter-final clash at theMardyke yesterday. See P51 for match report. Picture: Dan Linehan

SPORTEvening Echo

Gemma to miss seasondue to Lebanon duties

RONAN O’GARA’S indifferent form overhis last two games looks to have costhim his starting place on the Irelandteam to face Scotland on Sunday.Declan Kidney named his team atlunchtime today and the number 10 slotwill be filled by Ulster’s Paddy Jacksonwith O’Gara starting on the bench.Word from the Irish camp is thatMunster’s Dave Kilcoyne also looks setto start on the bench with Ulster’s TomCourt starting at loosehead, in place ofCian Healy, who is suspended.With Luke Marshall set to start at insidecentre in place of the injured GordonD’Arcy, the feeling was that theJackson/Marshall combination would bea better defensive unit given the best fitfor Ireland, given that they play atprovincial level together.Kidney was impressed by the way they

complemented each other when theyplayed together against Fiji in ThomondPark in November.Kidney is taking a huge gamble byleaving his former pupil out of his startingline-up in a must-win game for countryand coach.A loss would see any hopes Ireland haveof winning the championship and with itmaybe Kidney’s chances of a contractrenewal.Equally as big a call for the coach is thedecision to go with Court instead ofKilcoyne. Kidney will start BrianO’Driscoll and Sean O’Brien, who haveboth recovered from injuries picked up in12-6 defeat by England.● See P49 for more rugby.

CAMOGIE All-Star Gemma O’Connor willbe unavailable to Cork this summer dueto army duty in the Lebanon,

.The St Finbarr’s half-back departs for theLebanon in May, and is not returninguntil November which means she willmiss the Barrs and Cork’s entirechampionship campaign.O’Connor has beeng the county’s best

player for the past decade. A powerfulathlete and hugely driven, she has wonfive All-Irelands and seven All-Stars.Her departure will be a huge blow toCork boss Paudie Murray ahead of theopening league game at home to Tippthis weekend. Elsewhere, Cork footballkeeper Alan Quirke is due to return fromthe Lebanon next week.

RUGBYBy SEAN McCARTHY

CAMOGIE

UCC get the better of CITin Fitzgibbon Cup derby

Brookhill,Glanmire,Co.CorkT: (021) 4823393,M: (086) 8651194

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