Rebel star Quirke set to face Tribesmen

GOALKEEPER Alan Quirke is the most likely of Cork’s established players to have recovered from injury in time for next Saturday’s NFL Division 1 tie against Galway at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Quirke has yet to figure for Cork this season in competitive action, missing the opening league ties against Monaghan and Kerry, having been hampered by injury, but could come back into contention for a starting berth next weekend.

Cork are still without defensive trio Graham Canty, Anthony Lynch and John Miskella for the game. Canty and Lynch are both suffering from hamstring injuries but it is hoped they will link up with the squad for one of the remaining league ties in March against Tyrone, Dublin or Derry.

Miskella is a long-term injury victim with a groin problem, while Eoin Cadogan will also miss the game through suspension. But Cill na Martra defender Noel O’Leary is in line for a recall having been absent for the opening two league encounters.

Cork selector Ger O’Sullivan believes a victory on Saturday would ensure they reach their pre-league objective of preserving their Division 1 status.

“Our goal was to stay in Division 1 and we’ve made a good start to achieving that by getting four points from our first two games. I think six points would make us safe so we just need another win now to achieve that.

“I think you’d want to be winning your home games in this division, as we’ve two tough away matches against Derry and Tyrone coming up.

“So far we’re happy with our progress and our two opening wins. They were two good games for us and we had a good challenge match against Meath last Saturday in Stradbally in Laois as well, before losing by a few points.

“We’ve been without some big players to date but we’re not rushing these fellas back into it and would prefer to have them fit when the championships starts up again.”

Alan Smith will return to training with the Kildare footballers next week, marking a quick return after dropping out of the panel at the end of January.

An All-Star nominee last year, the Sarsfields attacker suffered a back injury during a weights session that ruled him out of the O’Byrne Cup.

Around that time, he was unable to give the necessary commitment to the panel and manager Kieran McGeeney agreed that he might be better off stepping away until such time as he was in a position to do so.

McGeeney has always been adamant that there would be a place for Smith in the squad once he was able to provide the commitment. The player resumed gym work this week and while he will not be considered for Sunday’s crunch Division 2 tie with Donegal, he is expected to return to full-time training next week.

“Alan is back in the gym,” confirmed selector Niall Carew yesterday. “He will be ready to rejoin the panel in the next week or so.”

This development comes as a significant boost to a team that has not resumed in the fluid manner that won so many fans during last year’s championship.

Smith was a key component of the team’s game plan, scoring 4-9 as the Lilies reached the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rainbow is a serious doubt for the Donegal game having strained a hamstring in training. The 38-year-old has started every game for Kildare this year and impressed in the unusual position of centre-forward against Tipperary last time out.

The versatile Rob Kelly has returned from keyhole surgery on his knee but he is unlikely to be considered for selection. Team captain, John Doyle, is available again having sat out the defeat by Down and victory over Tipperary due to suspension. Gary White, who missed the win in Semple Stadium due to a rib injury, is also in contention for a return, while Kevin O’Neill and Killian Brennan have also returned to fitness.