O’Donovan injury ‘a huge blow’ to Crokes’ hopes
O’Donovan was a leading light for the Killarney side in their recent Kerry county final triumph over Austin Stacks claiming four points from his midfield berth.
Dr Crokes manager Harry O’Neill described O’Donovan as ‘a huge loss’ and revealed that inter-county attacker Kieran O’Leary will continue to be marked absent as he attempts to recover from a fractured bone in his leg. Defensive duo Fionn Fitzgerald and Gavin Tucker are still sidelined with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
“Ambrose was travelling home on Friday night from college in UL when he was in an accident. He suffered a back injury and is still in hospital but is going to be okay. We don’t specifically know what his injuries are at the moment. But hopefully he won’t be out for too long. Ambrose is a huge loss for us. He’s playing great football and was an absolute powerhouse in the middle of the park.
“Kieran is still out as well. He has been making progress in fighting off his injury. He’s doing a bit of jogging and doing his rehab work in the gym, but this game has just come too soon for him. It’s a similar situation with the two other lads. We tried Fionn in a game recently but his hamstring gave way. Then Gavin hasn’t yet done a full training session after suffering a partial tear to the cruciate ligament.”
Next Sunday’s tie will be a historic event for Dr Crokes as it marks the first provincial club game they have played in their own grounds on Lewis Road.
Traditionally Dr Crokes have played their games at nearby county headquarters Fitzgerald Stadium but following submissions by club officials, Munster Council chiefs approved the Lewis Road venue to stage the clash.
“Our chairman Vince Casey made an approach and the ground was then inspected”, revealed O’Neill.
“I think there’s a few stipulations but we got the go-ahead. It’s fantastic for the club to be holding a game of that stature and its the first ever Munster club tie there. Hopefully it will be an advantage for us.”
O’Neill is wary of the challenge posed by their Limerick opponents Monaleen who they did cross paths with earlier this year on the challenge game circuit.
“We had an interesting challenge game earlier this season against them. We met them afterwards and had a bit of craic, but little did we know we’d be facing off later in the year.
“We didn’t get to see them play as the Limerick county final was on the same day as our match against Stacks.
” But they have a lot of very good footballers in the likes of Muiris Gavin, Mike Crowley, Brian Geary, Cormac Joyce-Power and Eoin Keating.
“You don’t become champions of your county without being well-organised.
“But we’re in good fettle. We’ve been all action since the county final win.
“The week after we’d the O’Donoghue Cup semi-final against Currow on the Saturday, and then the last round of the county league against Milltown on the Sunday, before playing Glenflesk in the O’Donoghue Cup last weekend.
“We won those last three games and we just hope it doesn’t take its toll now. But the Munster club is the big one and we’re looking forward to it.”
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