Cork hopeful of Lynch’s return

CORK are hopeful that star defender Anthony Lynch will be fit to resume playing in time for their second round game in the Bank of Ireland football qualifier competition on July 3.

Lynch was one of several notable absentees from the team which flopped against Kerry in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday after a performance which fell well below the expectations of the management and followers alike.

Selector Colman Corrigan indicated yesterday that the signs were positive. “My understanding is that if we had beaten Kerry, he would have been confident of playing in the final. From the first time of his injury, we were told that he would be four to five weeks out of the game. We’re hoping he will be okay.’’

Corrigan pointed out that, due to an injury suffered by Fionán Murray (who was introduced late in the second half), ‘to all intents and purposes’ they were missing five first-choice players against Kerry. Murray has the time to regain full fitness and while time may not be on the side of Lynch and Philip Clifford (who had surgery on his knee last Friday), Colin Corkery and Brendan Jer O’Sullivan will both be available to play.

“It will certainly make a difference. Anyone who has been watching Cork football over the last four of five years knows the quality of Colin Corkery. He is very fit, he has worked extremely hard and we are very impressed by his rate of progress,’’ he commented. “Brendan Jer is a very wholehearted player and he kept himself very fit when he was away. In any of the practice matches or kick-abouts we have had, he has looked very lively and has been the same for Beara.’’

Corrigan’s disappointment with the Cork display was compounded by the fact that he believed strongly in the ability of the team to win the game.

“Each of us felt very confident. We were happy where we were at and the amount of work that was after being put in,’’ he explained. “The injuries didn’t help but, at the same time, we thought we had a strong enough panel to take on Kerry and beat them.

“Unfortunately, as we found out on Sunday, we certainly hadn’t.’’

He shared the view that the Cork challenge had been seriously undermined by a failure to capitalise on their early chances, when they played impressively. “In the first 15/20 minutes, we did play very good football. We did get the ball into the inside line. We were moving it off fairly lively, but we couldn’t put the ball over the bar.’’

A better return in the form of early scores would have settled the team and given the newcomers confidence. Instead, the team lost its way and further contributed to their downfall by pursuing the wrong tactics.

“We started playing too much ball short in around the half-forward/centre field area. We weren’t getting the ball into the inside line. As a direct result, Kerry were able to push up on us faster and they were very strong physically.

“I would still think that we can pick it up. We’d be hoping to put out a stronger team the next day. And we’ll be taking the qualifier as seriously as we took the Kerry match. If only we could get a win under our belts it would give us the confidence to move on.”