Mark Coleman's jaw injury fears eased as Cork hurler may be ready for Munster opener

FEARS EASED: Mark Coleman of Cork and Blarney. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Mark Coleman’s jaw injury is not as severe as initially feared and it is hoped that the Cork hurler will be available for the county’s championship campaign.

Cork’s opening game of the Munster SHC round-robin, away to Waterford, is scheduled for April 21, and the early word is that Coleman could be available for their championship opener.

The half-back suffered the injury to his teeth and jaw during a training camp in Kerry on Saturday. He was immediately brought back to Cork for assessment. Concerns that his championship involvement was in doubt have, the Irish Examiner understands, eased somewhat.

Luckless Coleman, whose involvement from the off against Waterford last Sunday was his first start for Cork since the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final, missed all of the 2023 inter-county season because of a knee injury.

With this a break weekend in the Allianz Hurling League, the Cork hurlers headed to Kerry for a training weekend. It’s a training camp that was overshadowed by Coleman’s injury.