Ruairi Keating in line for FAI Cup final return if Cork City complete run to Lansdowne

SHOCK COMEBACK: Ruairi Keating could make a shock comeback for Cork City in the FAI Cup final if they overcome St Patrick’s Athletic. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Ruairi Keating could make a shock comeback for Cork City in the FAI Cup final if they overcome St Patrick’s Athletic.

Keating and Seáni Maguire were the marquee strikeforce recruited midway through last season’s First Division title winning campaign but the returning pair were both struck down with serious injuries.

Just eight games into the Premier Division season, Keating ruptured his Achilles in the April defeat at Derry City.

Tim Clancy forecasted a layoff of between six and ninth months for the 30-year-old but his successor as City boss, Ger Nash, admits the timeline has shortened.

The Rebels are eight points adrift at the foot of the table as they prepare to host runaway leaders Shamrock Rovers on Friday but the season could be extended.

City welcome one of Keating’s former clubs, St Patrick’s Athletic, to Turner’s Cross on October 3 for a place in the FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road on November 10.

“Keats is back around us – he’s got his boots on and is doing some small parts of training, non-contact stuff,” explained Nash.

“We're delighted to have him back. Ruairi is a really big character, a big part of the dressing-room, so it's great to have him around.

“He's rejoined the group for small aspects of training, not back in full training yet.

“It was a serious injury but he’s worked hard. I'm really pleased with him in that regard and we’d absolutely love to have him but there must also be a word of caution.

“If we can extend that season, he might be in contention to play.

“It's really important that we have him right from his rehab. There might be a slightly more concrete view on it in two weeks’ time, but at the moment, he's back with his boots on.” 

Keating scored three goals in those eight games. Maguire’s hamstring injury was sustained in the third game, sidelining him for two months.

He was among the scorers in last week’s 3-0 FAI Cup quarter-final victory at Finn Harps but focus returns to relegation concerns.

Nash’s side face a critical weekend, hosting the Hoops before travelling to take on St Pat’s on Monday.

The two teams they’re chasing for a playoff spot, Sligo Rovers and Galway United, meet on Monday, after which each team will have only five games remaining.