Power out and fresh doubts about Matthews

SEAMUS POWER is out of Sunday’s Ballycotton 10, with fresh doubts also about Peter Matthews’ participation.

Last weekend Seamus Power finished the four mile road race in Quilty with excruciating pain in his leg. On Monday it was discovered he had a damaged nerve in his back which was affecting his thigh and he has been in treatment ever since.

"I have been getting very good treatment and it is responding but I have not been able to run all week," he said.

"Tomorrow I will start back jogging and we will take it from there.

"It all happened quite suddenly and I am told it could be as a result of lifting something. But it was very painful and there is still a bit of pain there.

"When you get an injury you always know straight away whether it is a bad one or not. I knew this was a bad one."

He is confident, however, that it will not affect his preparations for the London Marathon in six weeks time.

"Losing a week does not bother me because I am in good shape. Now I just want to get back running again and be ready for the world cross-country championships and the London Marathon."

He is one of a number of Irish athletes who will be chasing Olympic qualification standards in London another is his training partner and big rival, Peter Matthews.

The Dubliner is also scheduled to compete in Ballycotton on Sunday but yesterday his participation hung in the balance as he sought treatment for a shin problem. It would appear that he is a very doubtful starter.

This will leave Corkman Martin McCarthy as the big challenger to the Kenyans in Sunday's classic 10 miler.

He was forced to pull out of the national inter-club cross-country championships after 7km with a damaged abdominal muscle.

He has recovered and will line out on Sunday for what should be a fast race. It will be a vital ingredient in his build up to the London Marathon.

"The race will tell me quite a bit about myself," he said. "It is very disappointing that Seamus won't be there and I hope he recovers quickly.

"I had a run around the course and it is more difficult than I remembered but then, when you are racing, you don't notice the little drags and pulls unless you are tired.

"There is always the possibility the Kenyans will take it out fast - maybe too fast - and you have to watch for things like that. But I am looking forward to it and if I can run 28 minutes or under I will be a very happy man on Sunday night."