By Cathal Dervan

STAR Kilkenny hurling forward Henry Shefflin believes his team has to improve their scoring return if they are to retain the McCarthy Cup against Cork in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final.

”All of us, including me, will have to improve our shooting,” the ace marksman told the Irish Independent. “We drove a lot of wides against Waterford but luckily we got away it. We can’t take the same chance again. We simply have to hit the target more often against Cork.

”Cork have a huge incentive after what happened in the final last year. They came back at us very strongly in the second half and would feel that if they took their chances they would have won. 

They will be fierce determined to make amends this year.”They have hit very good scores in all their games so we’ll have to be very much on our game to stay with them. The aim has to be to produce a more consistent effort in the final. We’ll need to if we’re to win.” 

Shefflin was at the center of controversy earlier this summer when he required surgery on an eye wound after he clashed with Clare’s Gerry Quinn in the qualifiers, but the player insists the injury is not a worry ahead of the big game.

”You’d always be worried when you get a bang anywhere near the eye. It’s a very sensitive area but thankfully my injury didn’t turn out to be too serious. I was okay by the following Wednesday,” said Shefflin. Cork defender Diarmuid O’Sullivan confirmed that the Rebels are out for revenge after last year’s reversal. 

He claimed, “The only statistic concerning us in Cork right now is that we have a chance to do what we didn’t do last year — beat Kilkenny in an All-Ireland hurling final.”It’s been said often since that we left that final behind us but I never looked at it that way. You have to credit Kilkenny for the way they came back at us. 

“I suppose losing that game has been the spur for us all season. Even when we lost the Munster final to Waterford there was still the Kilkenny defeat in the back of our minds driving us on.” 

Michael Kavanagh is Kilkenny’s major injury worry with a hamstring strain after D.J. Carey and Tommy Walsh were both declared fit to start.Cork are expected to recall fit again John Gardiner Ireland’s only Olympic medallist at the Athens games, golden show jumper Cian O’Connor, will be guest of honor at the final when he will be introduced to the sell-out crowd.

GAA president Sean Kelly said, “Cian brought huge honor to Ireland and its equestrian tradition and it was both opportune and appropriate that he should be honored in the biggest sporting arena in the country.”

Kilkenny Advantage

CORK hurling boss Donal O’Grady has claimed that Kilkenny have a major psychological advantage over the Rebels ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final — their Croke Park familiarity.

Kilkenny have played all their championship games on the sacred sod this season, and O’Grady claims they have an unfair advantage.

The Cork coach said, “The GAA say they need a gate of over 30,000 at Croke Park to break even, but they’re playing Leinster championship games there all the time with 25,000 people.

”It affords the Leinster teams a bit of experience of playing in Croke Park. I have never played there, but the lads say it is a different surface from Thurles, Limerick or Cork. If it’s damp, it’s tough to play on, so it gives Leinster counties that bit of familiarity that Munster teams don’t have. That’s an advantage for them.”

Corner-forward Jonathan O’Callaghan definitely misses the final and underwent surgery on his injured cheekbone last Thursday. James Bowles has been added to the Cork squad.

McGeeney To Miss

KIERAN McGeeney is the shock absentee from a 42 strong provisional Irish squad for next month’s Compromise Rules test series against Australia.New boss 

Pete McGrath, the former Down supremeo, omitted the player who many believe had been in line for the captaincy.McGrath explained, “Kieran wasn’t selected. He was obviously a player we debated and looked at. He hasn’t played much football this summer and in our view, maybe wasn’t at his best. This is one of the decisions debated long and hard. In the end, he didn’t make it.

”We said we would judge on what we saw and what we knew about players. The panel that we arrived at is one we are more than happy with.”

Armagh boss Joe Kernan criticized McGrath’s decision. Kernan said, “I am very disappointed at Kieran’s exclusion from the panel. I don’t know the reasons behind the decision, if it was lack of football or too much football.

I agree that Pete McGrath has the right to pick his own players, but Kieran has been and is still a hugely influential figure in any dressing room.”Aussie Rules stars Setanta O hAilpin and Tadgh Kennelly are both included, while Galway star Padraig Joyce will captain the team.

Lyons Leaves Dublin

TOMMY Lyons bowed to the inevitable and brought the curtain down on his three-year reign as Dublin football manager on Monday night.

Lyons won one Leinster title at senior level and one All-Ireland and two Leinster crowns at under level in his time in charge. But this year’s Leinster championship defeat to Westmeath and the qualifiers loss to Kerry sealed his fate.

Lyons said, “I’m leaving with a lot of friends and a lot of good memories. There were disappointments too along the way but that’s life. You take them and get on with it.

”All I can say is that we were a tight, united group who did our best for Dublin football. I came into the job with a smile on my face and I’m leaving the same way.

”I gave it my best shot, and while we didn’t win the All-Ireland final, we had some great times. I’m opting out of Dublin on a positive note and have no doubt this county has a bright future. I leave with no animosity and will be 100% behind whoever comes in next.”

Former Dublin midfielder Brian Mullins is the early favorite to replace Lyons.

Boylan’s Back

SEAN Boylan will take charge of the Meath football team for a phenomenal 23rd year next season after a night of high drama in Navan on Monday.

Boylan beat off the challenge of his only rival Eamonn Barry by just 13 votes, 50-37, at the County Board meeting in the Simonstown Gaels clubhouse.Paul Kenny and Mattie Kerrigan both withdrew from the election beforehand, while Barry claimed that board chairman Fintan Ginnity had actively canvassed on Boylan’s behalf.

Barry handed out a letter to all delegates which claimed, “As the chairman of Meath’s county committee, Fintan Ginnity was one of the four members of the board who interviewed me for this position.”I believe this conduct is totally unacceptable for a man in his position. 

As chairman of the county committee he is obliged to be totally impartial in this contest and is duty-bound to ensure that fair and proper procedures are carried out for all the contestants in the contest.”

Rugby Out

THE Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) have withdrawn Dublin as venue for the 2007 rugby World Cup after confirmation that Lansdowne Road is to be closed for two years for rebuilding.

The ground was to have hosted a pool game in 2007 when the French will act as main hosts.IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said, “As we plan to commence the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road in 2006 — and that program will continue into 2008 — we would not be in a position to stage the World Cup games in Ireland.

””Whilst this is disappointing for Irish rugby, it is incumbent upon the IRFU at this stage to inform Rugby World Cup and the French Federation of our position as the commercial and logistical plans for 2007 are being addressed at the present time.” 

GAA Shorts

DARRAGH O Se of Kerry has admitted he is philosophical about missing the All-Ireland football final against Mayo after breaking a bone in his foot in the semi win over Derry. O Se said, “It’s over. That’s sport, isn’t it. We’re in an All-Ireland final and I have been there four or five times already. It doesn’t get any easier.” . . . 

MAYO football boss John Maughan is preparing for the All-Ireland finals on the double after guiding Mayo to victory over Kildare in Sunday’s under 21 semifinal. They now meet Armagh six days after the senior decider against Kerry on September 26. Maughan admitted, “It’ll be busy, but there are lots of managers who would like to be in the position I am now.” . . .

WESTMEATH have confirmed that Paidi O Se will carry on as county boss for another year. Board Chairman Seamus Whelan said. “We never had any doubt that Paidi would not take the helm for the second year and we are delighted that all the formalities are over.” . . .CENTER-forward Brian McGuigan is to take a year’s leave of absence from the Tyrone football panel in 2005 and move to Australia. McGuigan has indicated that he will return in time for the 2006 campaign . . .

KERRY’S Tomas O Se and Kilkenny’s J.J. Delaney have been named as the Vodafone footballer and hurler of the month for August . . .LIAM Kearns is to remain in charge of the Limerick football team for another year . . .CARLOW have opened talks to keep Luke Dempsey on board as manager.

SONIA O’Sullivan bounced back from her Olympic disappointment by winning the Flora Lite Challenge for Women.