Cusack fighting fit after accident in training

CORK hurling manager Denis Walsh can rest easy with the news that his goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack has overcome a potentially serious training accident suffered on Saturday.

The Cloyne clubman slipped and struck his head while training and was taken to hospital in Cork for observation, but was released the same evening with no after-effects from the tumble.

Cusack has been in the news recently with the publication of his autobiography, Come What May, which drew wide attention fordetailing his private life, including the public announcement of his homosexuality.

The book also won Cusack and his co-writer Tom Humphries the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award for 2009.

The news of his goalkeeper’s lucky escape comes soon after Cork boss Walsh got another boost with the recent announcement that dual player Michael Cussen of Sarsfields and Glanmire is to focus on hurling next year.

Cussen came on as a substitute late in the Leesiders’ defeat by Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC final but did not get much game time in 2009, and now looks set to join Aisake O hAilpín to create a ‘twin towers’ in the Cork attack on a par with Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh for Kerry in football.

Cork’s first competitive hurling outing next year is in the Waterford Crystal hurling league on January 17, when they take on Cork Institute of Technology in Páirc Uí Rinn. Their first league game is due for February 21, in Cork against Offaly.

The footballersreturned to the fray earlier, lining out last night in the Rochestown Park Hotel in a boxing event to support the Breaking The Silencesuicide awareness charity.