Counihan hopeful over injured stars

Cork manager Conor Counihan says he remains hopeful that both Graham Canty and Ciaran Sheehan will be available for next week's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park.

The Rebels boss says he will give both players as much time as possible to prove their fitness. Team captain Canty is struggling with a serious hamstring injury, while young forward Sheehan suffered a knock to his right knee during the quarter-final win over Roscommon.

"Graham is progressing but the reality is we won't know until next week," admitted Counihan.

"50-50 is as much as he is at this point. It'll be touch and go. We won't know until very late.

"Those sort of injuries, they're messy enough and we just won't know. He has had that previously alright so we'll keep the fingers crossed.

"He's doing a bit of light jogging, say maybe 20 or 30 percent. Look, there's still eight or nine days to go so we'll keep the hopes up."

Counihan said that he is unconcerned about both Canty and Ciaran Sheehan missing training since the Roscommon match as a result of their injuries.

He also stated that the return of Eoin Cadogan from his hurling involvement is a boost to the squad.

"In fairness to them, both Graham and Ciaran have a very good base in terms of fitness so I wouldn't be worried about that aspect of it.

"Any time that we can widen our options is good, whether it is Eoin or is anyone else, every option is important. They're probably trying everything, holy water and everything! They're working away with our own physios and knowing these fellas they'd probably do anything they can."

However, Counihan conceded that if Canty does not pull through in time, the Bantry Blues clubman would be a massive loss.

"There's no doubt about it, he's a very important player from our point of view.

"Notwithstanding that, you have a lot of other fellas who are starting to put their shoulder to the wheel and take on some of that responsibility. But Graham is important, there's no doubt about it."