Carey and Corcoran in quarter-finals fitness race
He resumed training with the squad on Wednesday night and is hoping for a clear run over the next few weeks.
Cork star Brian Corcoran is unsure if he will recover in time from the shoulder injury which forced him off early in the Munster final. He will have a better idea after he goes for a scan today.
There has been considerable speculation about Carey’s involvement with the Leinster champions after playing no part in last Sunday’s final against Wexford.
The reason for that, he explained yesterday, was that he had ruled himself out of contention a week earlier.
He had no problem with Conor Phelan taking over his position at full-forward.
He also said he didn’t believe his place in the team “was guaranteed”.
Carey’s fitness problems relate to the neck injury he picked up in a club game about six weeks ago.
Subsequently, he trained once with Kilkenny and played in two club games.
“I played against Offaly and that was all I could do. I really have not been able to train with Kilkenny.
“Last week I had a long chat with Brian Cody. I told him I was not feeling right and I was not in the running for the Leinster final,’’ he added.
“Naturally I was hoping we would get over the match, but we were guaranteed a quarter-final place either way. I was togged out on Sunday but I was never in line to come on.
“I would not like anyone to think that Conor Phelan wasn’t in his rightful place or I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I feel my place is guaranteed. Everyone has to fight for his place.
“I was struggling and I had been out of contention early in the week. The team was only announced on the Friday but I knew from the Thursday week previous to that I wasn’t going to be playing.’’
He is very positive about his prospects of being able to prove his fitness for the All-Ireland quarter-final (on July 31).
He got through a full session without “any reaction” in midweek and hopes he will be able to get “a free run” for the next three or four weeks.
With Cork’s quarter-final a week earlier, Corcoran has less time to return to fitness. He did his first bit of training since the Munster final on Wednesday night with his club, but was confined to running and a limited amount of hurling.
He goes for a scan today.
He said that he couldn’t be sure if he could “fully swing” a hurley because he hadn’t tried to since the injury.
“Basically, if it’s a problem with the bone, it would be looking doubtful. But, if it’s not, there’s a good chance I might be able to play,’’ he said.
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