Mark Lynch is embracing Lamh Dhearg’s All-Ireland quest even though they are missing six players through suspension

All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship semi-final; Mooncoin(Kilkenny) v Lamh Dhearg (Antrim); Sunday, Trim, 2pm

HALF a dozen player suspensions hasn’t torn Lamh Dhearg’s All-Ireland semi-final preparations asunder according to their on-song defender Mark Lynch.

The hammer has come down on six Lamh Dhearg players for their involvement in a melee late on in their Ulster final victory against Sean MacCumhaill’s last November – Paddy Mervyn, Declan Lynch, Ryan Diamond, Brendan McColm, Conor McConville and Michael McGuigan.

That’s an unfortunate backdrop to Sunday’s last-four clash but Lynch remains confident that the Hannahstown men can tear up the script in one of the biggest games in the club’s history.

Lynch said: “Obviously we’ve got the six boys out with suspension but we’ve been training three nights a week. We’ve known since a month after the final so we’ve had time to adjust to it.

“Junior’s the same level everywhere in Ireland. Boys down south have told us it’s the same level the whole way through. Creggan won it two years ago and Ahoghill got to the final six or seven years ago so we can be confident.

“Our two managers Damian and Simon went to their [Mooncoin’s] Leinster final and they said they have a very good spine and they’ve a lot of quick, young hurlers. We’ve been preparing for that.”

The full interview with Mark Lynch is available in store today or online here.