Lynch all set for Cork return

Cork are confident of having star defender Anthony Lynch back in time for the All-Ireland semi-final with Tyrone at Croke Park in three weeks.

The anticipated Ballyvourney player’s return will be seen as critical in Cork’s attempts to restrict Tyrone’s deadly duo, Stephen O’Neill and Owen Mulligan.

A niggling groin strain forced Lynch to miss the narrow Munster final win over Limerick and yesterday’s thumping 1-27 to 2-10 quarter-final romp against out-played Donegal. In his absence Cork conceded two second-half goals which was a concern for manager Conor Counihan.

“You cannot accept that as a standard. It’s a serious issue. You cannot be conceding 2-10 to a team you are dominating,” he declared.

Tyrone survived a huge test from beaten Leinster finalists, Kildare, squeezing through by 0-16 to 1-11, having been four points down at the break. And Cork will have noted the 10-point contribution, eight from play, from O’Neill and Mulligan.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said he didn’t see Cork’s game.

“The score-line tells me plenty and we will get a look at that in due course.

“They have a lot of big, physical players and they play at pace. I hope that has been a good testing ground for us,” he said.

Cork and Tyrone have met regularly in the league in recent years, but it’s 1973 since their last championship encounter, when Cork inflicted a 5-10 to 2-4 defeat in the semi-final en route to claiming the Sam Maguire.

The bookies quote Tyrone 6/4 favourites to retain their title with Cork next at 3/1.

Meanwhile, there are a number of club hurling and football games this weekend, including the senior showdown between Carbery and Nemo, so Counihan will be hoping his charges emerge unscathed.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.