Cork footballer Collins to play two senior games in two days over the weekend

MARK Collins is down to play two senior games in two days this weekend as the club championship kicks into gear in the wake of the Cork hurlers' loss to Waterford.

Collins, like Damien Cahalane, is in the unusual position of being involved with two clubs at the top level. The pair pull on the Castlehaven geansaí for football, while Collins hurls with Douglas.

Douglas, who have a potent attack featuring Alan Cadogan, Shane Kingston, Cork minor Brian Turnbull and ex-Sars ace Cian McCarthy, meet Killeagh on Saturday night at 7pm in Cobh, while the Haven take on Carbery in the SFC on Sunday at 3pm in Dunmanway. 

The divisional side have a couple of senior hurlers of their own, with Caheragh’s Kevin and Colm O’Driscoll set to feature in Bishopstown’s SHC replay with Ballymartle on Tuesday night in Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm.

Dual demands have been in the spotlight in the women’s game this week, as Libby Coppinger will miss the Cork ladies footballers’ quarter-final against Galway tomorrow afternoon.

The Kealkill native will instead concentrate on the All-Ireland camogie semi-final against the Tribe at 7pm in the Gaelic Grounds.

Football boss Ephie Fitzgerald released Coppinger to the camogie squad rather than expect her to commute across the country to accommodate both. Both matches are live on television, the ladies football on TG4 and the camogie on RTÉ, which was cited as the reason for the clash.

Previously the Cork panel was packed with dual players with Rena Buckley and Briege Corkery the most high-profile. Buckley is only playing camogie this year while Corkery hasn’t featured for either team in 2017, though she hasn’t officially retired either.

Meanwhile, Fergal Horgan has been appointed as the referee for the All-Ireland hurling final between Waterford and Galway on September 3.

It had been speculated that Nemo Rangers’ Colm Lyons would get the prestigious job, but he was pipped by the Tipperary official.