Cork await Seamus Harnedy update

The Cork hurling management will decide tomorrow night if Seamus Harnedy will play any part in Sunday’s Munster championship semi-final against Waterford.

Harnedy was substituted in the final moments of the league final defeat with a hamstring complaint and manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has revealed the centre-forward is doubtful for Cork’s opening Munster SHC tie.

The Rebels are already planning without Lorcán McLoughlin after the Kanturk defender aggravated his collarbone injury while on club duty a fortnight ago.

“We are worried about Seamus. It is taking a bit longer than we thought,” said Barry-Murphy. “You would be hoping against hope that he would be okay, but I would say he is slightly doubtful. We will know for sure tomorrow night. He trained a bit on Saturday morning and he’s to do a bit more Tuesday night, then we will decide. He is out now five weeks and that’s not ideal.”

Added the Cork boss: “Lorcán McLoughlin is out, but he is looking a lot better than we thought. He will be back in a couple of weeks. Alan Cadogan is fine, he trained hard on Saturday morning.”

The returning Brian Murphy, meanwhile, is in full contention for a starting berth, according to Barry-Murphy. The defender retired from the inter-county scene in March 2014, rejoining the panel at the end of last month.

“He trained all last week and is in contention to start. With Lorcán injured, we had a serious lack of cover. We looked at all the club championship games, he was outstanding for his club [Bride Rovers].

“We went back to him and asked him to reconsider coming back into the fold given the problems we had. He made himself available and we are delighted with that. It has been a great boost to the panel.

“He didn’t need convincing. He just wanted to make sure that we wanted him and if we felt he was up to it. We certainly did, his form has been brilliant.

“It is a leap of faith in one sense. There is a risk factor for Brian too. Coming back, you never know how it is going to work out and it is not easy to walk back into a set-up you have left.

“He is such a good player I have no worries that will be a problem. Players of his quality don’t come around too often.”