McDonnell and Coughlan Cork’s only definite absentees for Cats clash

Cork will be close to full-strength for Saturday night’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A opener against Kilkenny in Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm).

The Munster champions name their side tonight for the game against the All-Ireland champions and only the injured duo Stephen McDonnell and Jamie Coughlan are definitively ruled out.

The game may come too soon for Shane O’Neill, who returned to full training recently after exams, but otherwise the Rebels have everybody else available.

“Stephen has a foot injury,” said Cork selector Johnny Crowley. “He’s doing light stuff and hopefully he’ll be able to do a bit more next week.

“Jamie had a nasty break in his hand and it’s taking time, which you can’t do anything about. He’s doing a bit of running and I think he’s targeting the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals if CIT get there.

“All of the other lads who were playing Fitz are available and Shane is back in the fold too with the last two weeks. It might be a bit too soon for him.”

With Cork having reached the Waterford Crystal Cup final, losing to Limerick, Crowley admits that picking a team will be difficult.

“We did well in that and got a few players,” he said, “and some fellas have done well in the Fitz.

“It’s a case of sitting down and seeing, but there’ll always be someone disappointed. Against Kilkenny, it’ll always be full-blooded and it should show us where we are.”

Meanwhile, former Meath forward Alan Nestor has revealed his deep desire to resurrect his inter-county career after overcoming cancer.

The younger brother of 1999 All-Ireland medallist Nigel was given the all-clear late last year after a bout of testicular cancer. The Blackhall Gaels man, who has returned to intense training, was an ever-present in the 2008 championship but admitted he didn’t try hard enough after that and lost his place.

But winning the 2013 Sigerson Cup with DIT alongside Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea and Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan convinced him he could play for Meath again before cancer struck.

“Being part of the DIT Sigerson team helped me realise that, look, if I’m able to play with this team of super stars I should be able to play with Meath, if I apply myself,” said Nestor.

“So that was kind of where my attitude changed. Knowing now everything I went through with the cancer treatment, it would mean more to me than any time I ever put on the green jersey before to play for Meath.

“To play in Páirc Tailteann again, I would love it. At the end of the day, if you’re playing well enough you’ll get picked so my focus is solely on doing well for the club, doing as well as I can and training as hard as I can. If I get picked, fantastic, if I don’t, there’ll be no grudges, held. I’m Meath’s number one fan either way.”