Cork camp ‘gutted’ by O’Neill misfortune

The Cork football camp is “absolutely gutted” following confirmation that forward Colm O’Neill has ruptured the cruciate ligament in his knee for a third time in Saturday’s League victory over All-Ireland champions Donegal.

The Ballyclough man has made remarkable recoveries to return to inter-county football twice before from serious knee injuries and yesterday selector Brian Cuthbert admitted that there was “intense personal disappointment” in the squad following the news of the setback.

O’Neill took to Twitter yesterday to confirm the injury following a meeting with specialist Tadhg O’Sullivan in Waterford. O’Neill tweeted: “My worst fears just confirmed today. Cruciate gone again. #disaster #gutted.”

He later thanked people for their best wishes. “Overwhelmed by all the good wishes and support. Hoping for 3rd time lucky ? and at least I no what’s it takes to get back.”

Cuthbert last night admitted: “I can safely speak for everybody involved with the team by saying we are all feeling an intense personal disappointment for Colm. To come back the way he did from the first two cruciate problems was just awesome. So for him to suffer the same injury for a third time is gutting. We are absolutely gutted that he will have to face into rehab all over again. It is just terrible news.”

Cuthbert continued: “I don’t think it will impact on them as a unit psychologically as much as it will them individually because these things are part and parcel of inter-county football. As much as the players want everybody available they will also understand it is just something they will have to get their heads around.

“This group of players have had to deal with the losses of Colm as well as Daniel (Goulding) and Ciarán (Sheehan) among others before and are mentally tough enough to focus again on football.”

Cork are currently without O’Neill, Sheehan and Patrick Kelly while Donncha O’Connor continues to be troubled by his Achilles tendon.

And Cuthbert’s fellow selector Ronan McCarthy offered an update on those players’ situations.

“First of all, losing Colm is a massive blow to us and we all wish him well. He has been fantastic for us. Ciarán (Sheehan) will be out for another three to five weeks as well, Donncha (O’Connor) has an ongoing achilles problem which will take two to three weeks more to get right and it will probably be early May before Patrick Kelly is available,” McCarthy added.

Meanwhile, following an MRI yesterday, it was also confirmed Dublin senior footballer Ciarán Kilkenny will be out of action for between four to six weeks following an injury sustained in Saturday’s league defeat to Tyrone.