Cork braced as Jamie Coughlan considers exiting panel for US

Cork hurlers are set to lose the services of a third player this season as Jamie Coughlan considers spending the rest of the summer in the US.

Selector Johnny Crowley said management had not yet been informed by the player of his intentions. However, he revealed they are aware he is weighing up the idea of travelling to the States.

It has been speculated locally that another member of the panel is contemplating leaving the panel although Crowley said nothing to that effect has been replayed to them.

In March, Cian McCarthy quit “due to work and other commitments”. A month later, defender Conor O’Sullivan departed because of a lack of starting opportunities. William Egan, who has been travelling, chose not to rejoin the set-up, despite an invitation from Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

Newtownshandrum forward Coughlan, 23, started four of Cork’s five championship matches in 2012 but has not begun a SHC game for the county since the drawn All-Ireland final in 2013.

His only championship appearances last year came as a late substitute in the Munster quarter-final draw with Waterford and the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary.

Cork hope to have Seamus Harnedy (hamstring) and Lorcán McLoughlin (collarbone) fit in time for their first round qualifier on Saturday, July 4. They will find out the identity of their opposition on Monday week.

Meanwhile, Tipperary received a significant psychological boost ahead of the Munster senior hurling semi-final against Limerick on June 21 when Noel McGrath attended Tuesday night’s training session.

While major doubts naturally surround McGrath’s availability for the 2015 championship, following recent surgery on testicular cancer, he was well enough to link up with the squad in Thurles on Tuesday evening for a puck-around.

A county board official confirmed that McGrath looked “in great shape” and news of his return to even a limited role with Tipp is a major step forward for the Loughmore-Castleiney star.

McGrath will not feature against Limerick but could be asked to fulfil a backroom role at the Gaelic Grounds.

An extremely popular figure in the Tipperary dressing room, McGrath’s encouraging recovery will lift the Premier County as they gear up for the clash with Limerick.

Tipp’s main injury concern is 2014 Young Hurler of the Year Cathal Barrett, who injured his shoulder on a warm-weather training camp in Spain in April.

Barrett missed the league semi-final defeat to Waterford and it is understood that the Holycross-Ballycahill player has not yet returned to full contact work.