The Irish Independent
23rd May 2001

PAT MULCAHY has received the nod to fill in for the injured Brian Corcoran on the Cork side for Sunday's Guinness Munster SHC clash with Limerick.

The Newtownshandrum man will be the lone Cork championship debutant in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown after staking his claim on a starting place with a string of impressive displays during the National League.

In fact, he switched from right corner-back to centre half-back after Corcoran suffered a broken finger in the League loss to Wexford in early April, and looked very comfortable in the position. Corcoran sustained a similar injury two weeks ago, but he has recovered enough to be named in the list of subs.

Limerick have delayed selection of their side until tonight. As well as injury worries over Brian Geary and Damien Reale, Ciaran Carey is suffering from 'flu. Sunday's crunch tie can't come quickly enough for Limerick skipper Barry Foley. The southern giants also squared up to each other in last year's campaign Cork won 2-17 to 1-11 but Foley's meaningful participation in the Semple Stadium encounter lasted a mere 20 seconds.

He went over on his ankle inside the first minute, and that ended his contribution to Limerick's victory charge. "I hobbled around for about 15 minutes, in the hope that the ankle might improve," explained the flying forward, who is in his first year as Limerick skipper. Foley is still waiting to savour his first championship victory over Cork.

In 1998, he figured on the Limerick side edged by the Rebels, 1-20 to 3-11, at the Gaelic Grounds. But he didn't have the satisfaction in assisting in the famous 3-18 to 1-8 massacre over Jimmy Barry Murphy's side in the 1996 campaign at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

"I was a sub that day, but I didn't get a run," he pointed out. "Still it was great to see the lads perform so well on Cork's ground. I had to wait until the game against Clare for my Championship debut, when I came on as a sub.

"Our form in the League was not consistent enough and we got hammered by Clare a few weeks ago at the Gaelic Grounds. But since then I feel that things have improved considerably due to the fact that we have concentrated on hurling practice," stated Foley, looking ahead to Sunday's clash.

"As a result the touch of the players is now first class, and obviously that's what you need in the Munster Championship where a poor first touch will put you under immediate pressure." "It's less than two years since Cork won the All-Ireland. They were very disappointed to lose to Offaly in last year's All-Ireland semi-final, and that will make them even more determined to go all the way this year. Despite the huge amount of experience in the side, most the players are still relatively young.

"They certainly don't have a weak link, but I think that the full-forward line of Seanie McGrath, Joe Deane and Ben O'Connor is particularly strong." Foley doesn't feel that the absence of injury victim Brian Corcoran will enhance Limerick's prospects of victory. "Brian is an exceptional hurler, but I'm sure that the rest of the players will raise the level of their performances to compensate for his absence," he argued.