Newtown, Loughlins hit by injuries
Jimmy Comerford is a major doubt for the Kilkenny and Leinster champions, while Ben O’Connor’s fitness is causing concern for the Newtown team management.
And Ulster champions Dunloy, the most experienced of the four teams to make the knock-out stages, have been dealt a cruel blow with star forward Liam Richmond ruled out after a freak accident at work last week.
O’Connor has not trained with the Munster champions for the past week-and-a-half and also missed a challenge played under lights against Cork last Tuesday night.
He is suffering from a knee ligament injury which may yet necessitate surgery.
Alan O’Brien (nose) and Ian Kelleher (back) have also been injured, but are likely to be fit for selection.
A back injury to Jimmy Comerford is the only injury concern for O’Loughlin Gaels manager Michael Nolan.
“We won’t know until later in the week, but we will be giving him every chance,’’ he said.
Comerford lined out at corner-forward in the Leinster final against holders Birr and played a major role after switching to midfield. He is a brother of Kilkenny stars Andy (the team captain) and Martin Comerford.
While Galway champions Portumna can report a clean bill of health, opponents Dunloy will have to plan without Antrim forward Bermingham. He fell off a ladder at work last Friday and has an arm in plaster after suffering two chipped bones in the fall.
“It’s a huge blow to the team and Liam himself is devastated,’’ said manager Sean McLean yesterday.
“He was only after working his way back to fitness.”
On the credit side, centre-forward Colm McGuckian and corner-back Paudie McMullan have been declared fit after proving their fitness in recent challenge games with Dublin and Tipperary.
Meanwhile, there is cause for some pre-match celebration for the eight clubs contesting the AIB All-Ireland club semi-finals over the next two weekends, with the announcement of this year’s AIB Provincial Player Awards.
Each of the eight provincial winners comes from the various clubs who will contest the Club semi-finals this month.
The winners will be presented with their awards at a function in AIB Bankcentre, Ballsbridge on Monday March 1.
2003 AIB Provincial Player Awards
Football
Connacht: Michael Meehan, Caltra Leinster: Rory Gallagher, St. Brigids Munster: Tomas Ó Sé, An Ghaeltacht Ulster: Johnny McBride, The Loup
Hurling
Connacht: Ollie Canning, Portumna Leinster: Martin Comerford, O’Loughlin Gaels Munster: Ben O’Connor, Newtownshandrum Ulster: Darren Quinn, Dunloy.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
