Cadogan poised for football action

CORK boss Conor Counihan is likely to be able to call upon the services of dual star Eoin Cadogan for their NFL Division One clash against Dublin in Páirc Uí Rinn next Saturday night.

Cadogan missed out on last Saturday’s defeat against Tyrone due to his involvement with the Cork hurlers against Kilkenny on Sunday, but his continued attempts to juggle both codes means the Douglas defender is set to link up with the football squad this weekend, although he could still feature for the hurlers in their trip to Waterford on Sunday as well.

Cadogan’s return will be a boost for Cork as their defence continues to be without long-serving trio Anthony Lynch, John Miskella and Graham Canty. There are still doubts over the fitness of Ger Spillane and Nicholas Murphy after both players were forced to sit out last Saturday night’s trip to Omagh and Counihan will definitely have to plan with attacking duo Donncha O’Connor and Colm O’Neill for the clash with Dublin.

O’Connor’s red card against Tyrone means he will be suspended for the matches against Dublin and Derry, while O’Neill limped out of the Tyrone game with a hamstring injury.

The Cork U21 side’s exit from the Munster championship last Saturday frees up Aidan Walsh and Ciarán Sheehan, but injury concerns over both players may prevent Counihan from drafting them into the squad.

Opponents Dublin look set to have to plan without captain Paul Griffin for the game after he sustained a knee injury in their victory over Monaghan last Saturday. Dublin are awaiting an update on Griffin’s fitness, but it is hoped that initial fears that he tore his cruciate ligament do not materialise.

Fellow defender Ross O’Carroll, who has yet to feature for the Dublin footballers after switching allegiances from the county’s hurlers, suffered a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury in a club match with Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday morning.

In better news for Dublin manager Pat Gilroy, Alan Brogan, Barry Cahill and Brian Cullen may be in the frame for selection for Saturday night’s clash.

Brogan played his first game in three months when lining out for his club St Oliver Plunketts on Sunday after being sidelined with a fractured bone in his hand. Cahill and Cullen have shaken off leg and back injuries respectively to be back in Gilroy’s plans.

Meanwhile, Summerhill College Sligo have opted not to appeal the result of Saturday’s Connacht Colleges SAFC Final, despite opponents St Gerald’s Castlebar having used six substitutes during the game. St Gerald’s triumphed 1-12 to 0-6 but their win was marred by the extra sub they used in injury-time for a blood injury. Summerhill had the option to appeal the result but the decision was taken not to appeal given the decisive manner of Gerald’s success.

The news is a relief to the Mayo side who now concentrate on a bid for the All-Ireland with a semi-final against the winners of tomorrow’s MacRory Cup final between St Colman’s Newry and Omagh CBS in prospect.

DUBLIN (v Carlow, Leinster U21FC semi-final): V Whelan; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, J McCarthy; J Cooper, S Murray, N Devereux; C Mullins, M Coughlan; D Quinn (Lucan Sarsfields), G McIntyre, N Brogan; D Quinn (Na Fianna), D Rock, G Sweeney.