Cork squad players hit by injuries

CORK have been rocked by injuries to squad members ahead of next week’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford at Croke Park.

Defenders Killian Cronin (Cloyne) and Blackrock’s Wayne Sherlock are struggling to be fit for the game while utility player Kieran McGann (Castlelyons) is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Cronin broke a bone in his wrist in a club game against Kilmallock last week and will be out of action for a month, Sherlock is recovering from an operation and while he is back in training, is unlikely to be match fit.

McGann broke a bone in his leg during a county league game against Erin’s Own.

“It’s very hard on the players to be picking up injuries as we come to the crunch time of the championship,” said selector Joe O’Leary.

“We are already without Shane O’Neill through injury. His two colleagues, Patrick Cronin and Ronan Conway, are involved with their club Bishopstown in tonight’s county IHC and we cannot afford to pick up any more injuries.

“It’s been a worrying few days for the selectors. Niall McCarthy was involved in a county SHC game with Imokilly on Monday night, Tom Kenny was in action with his club Grenagh in a Muskerry JHC game on Tuesday night and thankfully both came through unscathed.

“Fortunately for us last night’s SFC relegation play-off between Na Piarsaigh and St. Michael’s was postponed. That game would have involved John Gardiner and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín.”

The county board have scheduled three county SHC quarter-finals for the weekend of August 12/13 with a third round replay also down for the same weekend.

Should Cork qualify for the All-Ireland final the selectors are likely to seek a postponement of all four games.