Ilen Rovers’ Wycherley may be fit for final

SURPRISE Cork SFC finalists, Ilen Rovers, have not given up hope on centre forward, John Wycherley, being fit for Sunday’s county final against reigning champions, Nemo Rangers.

Wycherley injured his knee in the comprehensive semi-final defeat of Duhallow and was given little chance of making the West Cork club’s first ever senior county final.

However the 26-year-old is working around the clock and receiving extensive physio treatment in a bid to be fit for the frame on Sunday.

Ilen’s experienced corner back, Donal Murphy, is also struggling with a hamstring injury.

Apart from long-term injuries to Paul Brophy and Ciaran O’Shea, Nemo Rangers coach Ephie Fitzgerald has a full squad to select from for Sunday’s decider at Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

He insists that Nemo’s first round destruction of Ilen by 15 points has no relevance to Sunday’s final for the city club.

“It is an irrelevance now, just as it was then. It’s not been spoken of since and won’t be this week,” he said. Fitzgerald admitted he expected to be playing Duhallow in Sunday’s final but was impressed with Ilen’s play in the semi-final.

“They work hard, are very fit and have an excellent attack. But we’ve been working hard on our defence this season, and we’d hope that will bear fruit on Sunday.”