Trio of Cork defenders to miss Division 2 campaign

Midfield totem Ian Maguire will also absent for the opening rounds.

SIDELINED: Luke Fahy of Cork is tackled by Rian O'Neill and Ben Crealey of Armagh. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Cork football’s League promotion bid has been notably weakened by the confirmation that defenders Luke Fahy, Kevin O’Donovan, and Seán Meehan will miss the entire Division 2 campaign, with midfield totem Ian Maguire also absent for the opening rounds.

Factor in the recent Sigerson Cup injury incurred by David Buckley, Steven Sherlock’s year out, Jack Cahalane moving across to the hurling panel, Conor Corbett’s ruptured cruciate from last summer, and the off-season retirements of Killian O’Hanlon, John O’Rourke, and Tom Clancy, and it all adds up to manager John Cleary being without several players he'd have wanted available for this latest Division 2 escape bid. Meath, at home this Saturday (5pm), is the first fixture in that promotion push.