Cork County Board chairman Bob Ryan last night said he is hopeful a resolution will be found by the end of this week, to the case that has left former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan out of pocket to almost €7,000 due to medical bills incurred while trying to cure a career-ending hip injury.

Former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan has expressed his satisfaction with a meeting held with county board chairman Bob Ryan on Wednesday night where discussions took place on the case that has left him almost €7,000 out of pocket.

Cork County Board chairman Bob Ryan has met with former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan to discuss his claim he was not financially reimbursed properly by the board for an operation on his hip, after injury ended his playing career.

Double cruciate injury victim Dermot Earley is confident Diarmuid Duggan’s costs will be met after the former Cork footballer went public with his plight.

Gaelic Players Association chief Dessie Farrell believes former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan “slipped through the net” of the GAA’s welfare scheme.

GAA president Christy Cooney has defended Croke Park’shandling of the Diarmuid Duggan reimbursement row, but warned county boards they also have a responsibility to support their players.

The GPA last night insisted it is absolutely paramount that players’ injuries are dealt with properly, both on and off the treatment table.

When I interviewed Anthony Lynch before Christmas to mark his retirement, it struck us just how much the welfare of Cork players had improved since his breakthrough year in 1999.

Former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan, the player out of pocket by almost €7,000 due to medical costs, warned young GAA stars about the potential burnout problems they face by playing for too many teams whileeligible for the minor and U21 ranks.

HE’S played with Cork at every grade from Under-16 to All-Ireland SFC semi-finals in Croke Park, but when a persistent hip injury finished defender Diarmuid Duggan’s career, friends in high places were hard to find.

An array of Irish sporting stars are giving their backing to a sports prediction website which has been established by two Cork GAA stars as a novel method to help clubs raise funds.

Bishopstown 0-13 Ballinhassig 0-12

BALLINHASSIG remain a senior hurling club, but only just, after an injury-time goal from goalkeeper Martin Coleman salvaged a draw in their Cork SHC relegation play-off with Bishopstown at Cloughduv yesterday.

In the five years they’ve been plying their trade at senior level, the footballers of Carbery Rangers and Ilen Rovers have never crossed paths in championship.

Influential defender Anthony Lynch has been included by manager Conor Counihan in the Cork side to face Donegal on Sunday, despite doubts over his fitness due to a groin injury.

Cork manager Conor Counihan is sweating on the fitness of key duo Anthony Lynch and Alan O'Connor facing into Sunday's Munster SFC semi-final against Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

CORK football boss Conor Counihan has added four of the county’s recent All-Ireland U21 winners to the senior panel ahead of Sunday’s Munster SFC opener against Waterford in Dungarvan.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has admitted that there is a strong chance he will never play for Cork again.

Kerry 3-14 Cork 2-13

WELL, it’s hardly been an overnight success anyway.

All-Star midfielder Darragh O Sé has emerged as an injury doubt for Kerry's Munster SFC final clash with Cork on Sunday week.

Cork manager Conor Counihan has been dealt a further blow to his side's preparations, ahead of the Munster SFC final on July 20, following the news that Diarmuid Duggan sustained an injury in a club game.

TOMORROW’S Munster SFC clash of Limerick and Cork at the Gaelic Grounds will evoke memories of the last meeting between the counties at the same venue. The occasion was June 10, 2006 when Cork prevailed 0-9 to 0-5 in one of the poorest games of the season.

FOLLOWING champion Newtownshandrum’s opening round Cork County SHC victory over Bride Rovers on Friday, Cloyne, the beaten finalists for the last two years, got down to business in fine style at Ballynoe yesterday when beating Killeagh 4-10 to 3-6.

Cork manager Billy Morgan has made one change to the side that started last week's win over Dublin for Sunday's NFL Division 1A clash with Mayo (Castlebar, throw-in 3.30pm).

Ballinhassig 1-16 Aghada 1-11

ALL eyes yesterday were on Enniskeane, where Na Piarsaigh lined out against O’Donovan Rossa in the Evening Echo Cork SFC with three Ó Ailpín brothers in the black and amber - Teu, Aisake and All-Ireland hurling captain Seán Óg.

CENTRE-HALF forward: it’s a tough station. You’re usually marking one of the opposition’s best players and your mission statement can be vague.

Offaly host Dublin in Division 1A of the National Football League today, but both sides are out of contention for a league semi-final place.

Billy Morgan has made three changes to the Cork side that will travel to Ballybofey to take on Donegal in their final league game.

CORK have made three changes from the team which thrashed Dublin for the trip to Ballyshannon on Sunday to play Donegal in their final league game.

Ilen Rovers 0-15 Carrigaline 0-7