Cork's Brian Hayes looking forward to downtime

Brian Hayes is looking forward to some downtime between Cork's victory over Waterford and their final match of the Munster SHC round robin against Clare

Cork's Brian Hayes: "We'll be targeting getting back to another Munster final." Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Brian Hayes said Rob Downey may be rehabbing his injury with the aim of playing in the Munster SHC final. Downey suffered ankle ligament damage during Cork's victory over Limerick a fortnight ago. 

The six-week timeline given for recovery would put him on course to feature in the Munster decider on June 7, should Cork qualify. Hayes, speaking at the launch of Clean Cut Meals as the official ready meals partner of the GAA and GPA, said Downey has not yet returned to running on the ankle. 

"He's doing his own rehab with physios," said Hayes. "Like any player he probably wants to play on the big occasions, if he wants to target that himself, but I suppose we have to make sure that we're there first."

Cork will have a two-week break between their win against Waterford and their final match of the round robin against Clare. A victory over Clare would secure a place in the Munster final for Cork. Though, depending on how results go this weekend between Tipperary and Clare and Limerick and Waterford, Cork could have already qualified for the final by the time their match with the Banner swings around.

"The Waterford game was a great win to set us up nicely to get us out of Munster and get us into that All-Ireland series," said Hayes, "but we'll be targeting getting back to another Munster final hopefully with the Clare game."

Hayes is looking forward to some downtime this weekend. 

"The structure is built out now so much for you," he said, "you have your plan at the start of the week, you have your gym sessions on your days off. That time does pass by fast. On the weekends, you're only delighted to switch off and have a break from the match. You can do something different with your Saturday or Sunday evenings.

"If there were some good matches on TV, you'd be watching them alright. I'd watch a good bit of the football, the finals were on last weekend. You'd be out and about. The Barrs are playing Sunday, we're not training Sunday, so I might head down to that. 

"There's always going to be something to do and different people to mix with, friends outside of the group that you'd catch up with as well. Head for a sauna and maybe a sea swim there on Sunday, go for a nice coffee, chill out.

"It's nice I suppose to switch off, but you'll be back into it fairly lively."