Injuries hamper Clonakilty’s bid to take ‘huge step’ in Cork Premier SFC

Chasing a first county semi-final appearance since 2010, a Clonakilty line-up without Liam O’Donovan is a very different proposition to one with him at its centre driving forward at every opportunity

Maurice Shanley has seen very little game-time in 2021 due to injury but the Cork defender is expected to start Clonakilty’s Cork Premier SFC quarter-final against Duhallow. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Cork senior footballer Liam O’Donovan is a major doubt for Clonakilty’s Cork Premier SFC quarter-final against Duhallow, but there is better news for his clubmate and fellow Cork senior Maurice Shanley — another to be plagued by injury this season — who is expected to start tomorrow.

A torn ACL in July of 2020 followed by persistent hamstring troubles upon his return meant that Clon’s second group outing against Ballincollig at the end of last month was O’Donovan’s first football championship game for the club in two full years.