Fitness worry prompts Counihan to delay naming Cork side

CORK boss Conor Counihan is to delay naming his team for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Kerry in Fitzgerald Stadium until Thursday night due to fitness concerns over a number of players.

Counihan is definitely without long-serving duo Anthony Lynch and Nicholas Murphy, while Graham Canty (shoulder), John Miskella (groin) and Ciaran Sheehan (shoulder) have all been battling problems which have curtailed their involvement in the run-up to the game.

Counihan also only welcomed Eoin Cadogan back into the frame last night after his exertions with the county’s hurlers on Sunday while they will also hope Aidan Walsh emerges unscathed from tonight’s Munster U21HC quarter-final between Cork and Waterford in Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

“Obviously we’ve a number of injuries so we won’t be making any decision until Thursday on the team,” said Counihan. “Alan Quirke and Pearse O’Neill are just back. John Miskella has played some football, but not a whole pile. Graham Canty is in a similar situation and Ciaran Sheehan has an injury as well.

“Nicholas Murphy and Anthony Lynch certainly won’t play. The reality is that is pretty significant. That would require major surgery if we had to replace all that. But look that’s the situation we’re in.

“We’ll give everyone a chance until later on in the week and see how things are going then. Eoin (Cadogan) is back in the panel now and like everyone else is in contention. It’s about communication between the two managers with him and he makes the maximum effort.”

Counihan rubbished suggestions that defeat on Sunday would have no effect on Cork’s ultimate All-Ireland championship aspirations and insisted that they need to avoid the qualifier route to prevent any conflict with club fixtures later on.

“We’ve never hid from the fact that we’d prefer to go the straight route than with the scenic route.

“From our point of view in Cork, we’ve a big county and a lot of dual club activity, so you could run into problems there if you’re in qualifiers.

“The do or die element may not be there next Sunday, but from an individual player viewpoint you’re anxious to play well and consolidate your position in the team.”

Counihan also disagrees that Kerry have been significantly weakened by retirements over the winter and points to the return of Kieran Donaghy as a significant boost to their ambitions.

“They seem to pick guys up pretty easily. Donaghy is back so I don’t think it’s a major loss. If you balance that with the guys we’re missing, if you’re a betting man you’d be inclined to go to the other side. I was very impressed with them against Tipperary and it’s very significant as well that they’ve played a championship game.”