Gardiner hopes of facing Waterford get boost

JOHN GARDINER’S chances of being fit for the Munster hurling final in three weeks time are looking a lot brighter than at the weekend.

After seeing a specialist at the Cork University Hospital yesterday, the Na Piarsaigh man was not completely ruled out for the June 27 date against Waterford.

“It’s not 100% certain that I will be fit to play”, said Gardiner, “but I’m very hopeful after seeing the specialist. The injury is not as bad as first thought and I’m very relieved. It’s been a worrying couple of days.

“No player wants to miss out on a Munster final. It’s what you strive for as a player, and after watching Waterford on Sunday, it’s going to be a great final in three weeks time”.

Gardiner cracked a bone below the knuckle on the small finger while training with the under 21s on Friday night, and when the hand began to swell, the alarm bells went off.

“It’s a recurrence of the injury I sustained playing in the Fitzgibbon Cup against Limerick IT back in February and that kept me out of action for a month.

“Thankfully it’s not as bad, and while the specialist has given me hope of being ready, I’ll have a better idea in about 10 days time.”

Another inter-county player who was in the wars at the weekend was Jonathan O’Callaghan, who was forced off the Avondhu team with a hand injury at half-time in the County SHC against Muskerry.

“After getting the belt I got an almighty scare and feared the worst,” said the Castletownroche player.

“Thankfully X-rays showed there is nothing broken which was a great relief, but as of now I can’t grip the hurley properly. Hopefully that will come in the next few days when the soreness goes away. My big concern now is being fit to play with Castletownroche in the North Cork JHC against Kilworth on Friday night. It’s touch and go if I’ll be ready for that game.”

Meanwhile Cork senior footballer Anthony Lynch is battling to be fit for Sunday’s Munster championship semi-final against Kerry in Killarney.

Selector Jim Nolan said that whatever team is picked tonight, every player will be 100% to play.

Several Cork senior hurlers will be in club action this coming weekend. Mickey O’Connell and Brian Murphy are due to play with Midleton and Bride Rovers respectively in the SHC in Ballynoe on Saturday night. However, the county selectors have made a request to postpone the East Cork derby game which will be heard at tonight’s County Board meeting.

John Anderson and Graham Callanan will play with Glen Rovers against UCC in the SHC in Páirc Uí Rinn, also on Saturday night.

The students will be without Tommy Walsh and James Fitzpatrick, both of whom will be in action with Kilkenny in the Leinster championship semi-final against Wexford on Sunday.