IRISH SPORTS Council chairman Ossie Kilkenny has criticised the interpretation of a recent ESRI report, which sectors of the media believed pointed to a downturn in the participation rates in Gaelic games.

Kilkenny, at the launch of the Gala senior camogie championship yesterday in Croke Park, underlined that the GAA is still the premier sporting organisation in the country, when it comes to the on-field participation of its members.

"The ESRI report has had strange reports in the media and has been misinterpreted," he stated. "The GAA is our cultural heritage and has the highest participation rates." Kilkenny also pointed towards positive figures in relation to the participation of those in women's Gaelic sports.

Gala, the championship's title sponsor for the past two years, has pledged its support for camogie for a further three years.

• Cork manager Gerald McCarthy has announced a 29-man championship panel ahead of the Munster hurling semi-final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday week, June 8th.

Erin's Own clubman Cian O'Connor is not included in the squad but selector Martin Bowen is hopeful the versatile defender will return in mid-June when he recovers from medial knee ligament damage.

Meanwhile, Bowen confirmed that Cork have a clean bill of health ahead of Tipperary's visit to Leeside.

CORK PANEL:Donal Óg Cusack, Martin Coleman, Anthony Nash (goalkeepers); Brian Murphy, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Shane O'Neill, Shane Murphy, John O'Callaghan, John Gardiner (captain), Eoin Cadogan, Ronan Curran, Kevin Hartnett, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Kieran McGann, Tom Kenny, Jerry O'Connor, Pa Cronin, Niall McCarthy, Kieran Murphy (Sars), Kieran Murphy (Erin's Own), Timmy McCarthy, Brian Corry, Cathal Naughton, Ben O'Connor, Paudie O'Sullivan, Neil Ronan, Patrick Horgan, Kevin Canty, Joe Deane.