Lynch and O’Connor look good for action

THERE’S mixed news on the injury front for Cork boss Conor Counihan ahead of Sunday’s crunch All-Ireland SFC semi-final battle against Tyrone.

Defender Anthony Lynch has shaken off the groin injury which has dogged his championship summer and looks set to return to the starting side, while midfielder Alan O’Connor has recovered from a back strain which curtailed his involvement in training last week.

Yet those positives are offset by the predicted absence of James Masters, who is rated doubtful after sustaining a knee injury in training last Tuesday night. The Nemo Rangers attacker was not expected to secure a place in the starting side but his unavailability would rob the Cork management of an attacking option from the bench.

Cork’s opponents Tyrone have been boosted by the news goalkeeper John Devine’s season may not be over after all. Devine was expected to miss the rest of the championship campaign after dislocating a shoulder last month. But he has returned to training, and could still have some part to play in the Red Hands’ bid to retain the All-Ireland title, should they overcome Cork.

Apart from Devine’s continued absence, Tyrone expect to be at full strength for Sunday’s clash. Enda McGinley has recovered from a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the quarter-final win over Kildare and is expected to resume his midfield partnership with Kevin Hughes.

Meanwhile, Cork junior manager Mossie Barrett has injury worries over corner-back Pat Gayer and corner-forward Vincent Hurley ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland JFC final against Roscommon in Portlaoise (2 pm). Both Gayer and Hurley are suffering with shoulder injuries but Barrett remains hopeful they will have recovered before Saturday.

Barrett also revealed Cork U21 All-Ireland winner Ciarán Sheehan, who played in the Munster JFC final against Clare before travelling to Melbourne for a trial with AFL outfit Carlton, is not set to rejoin the squad for Saturday’s decider.

Meanwhile, a hectic programme of Dublin club fixtures this weekend has resulted in Parnell Park being unavailable to host Saturday’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21HC semi-final between Kilkenny and Antrim. A new venue has yet to be confirmed.