Collins’ swollen lip and ruptured pride

He’s survived the challenges of defenders from Ulster sides Armagh, Down and Donegal in the league this season yet it was an unusual accident with a medicine ball that saw Cork attacker Mark Collins sidelined for last Saturday’s trip to O’Moore Park to face Laois in Division 1.

Collins, an All-Ireland U21 and Sigerson Cup winner in recent seasons, had to get stitches to a wound in his mouth following an accident during a weights session with the Cork squad last week.

“It was a strange accident but nothing too serious really,” he said.

“I was throwing up a medicine ball but when it came back it went through my hands and hit me on the face. I bit on my lower lip as a reaction and ended up cutting it.

“It swelled up a bit and I just needed a few stitches to sort it out.

“You’d expect to get a belt in the mouth when you’re playing on the pitch but not really when you’re in the gym.

“I got plenty slagging from the other lads about that, they’d a good laugh!

“After talking to the management, we just decided as a precaution that I’d sit out the Laois game last weekend. It’s grand now, the stitches I got in are dissolvable and it’s nearly sorted.

“Hopefully, I’ll get some training under my belt this week and I should be back available for the game against Kerry next Sunday.”

Cork are likely to be at full strength for the clash with their Munster rivals in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, in a game that is part of an attractive league double-header as the county’s hurlers face Galway in the curtain-raiser.

Dual defender Eoin Cadogan will be part of the football setup, while Collins and fellow attacker Fiachra Lynch, who has been hampered with a back injury, should be back in harness.