Crokes have to plan without O'Carroll

DUBLIN FULL back Rory O’Carroll seems certain to be unavailable for Kilmacud Crokes for Sunday’s Leinster club football quarter-final against defending provincial champions Portlaoise.

Due to studies, O’Carroll is currently based in France, about an hour outside Paris, but a combination of injury and airport worker strikes means Crokes must plan without him, adding to the already worrying long-term injury list.

Dublin panellists Darren Magee, Paul Griffin and Mark Davoren are unavailable.

“It is highly unlikely that Rory will be back,” said manager Paddy Carr.

“He sustained a groin strain that we have not been able to monitor so we don’t really know if it has been responding to treatment. Then there are the flight complications as well.”

Crokes managed to capture the county title despite the loss of the Dublin trio, Kevin Nolan through illness and their previously most reliable scorer, Mark Vaughan.

Vaughan did make a telling 20-minute cameo in the final against St Brigid’s but his ongoing back problems recurred recently, making his presence in Portlaoise a major doubt.

There is also a doubt surrounding Niall Corkery who has not trained since the county final due to a knee problem.

Corkery established himself in the Dublin half-forward line this summer with a strong work ethic and this energetic style seemed to have compensated for the loss of Magee in the Crokes midfield.

“We will give Niall until the 11th hour before testing his fitness,” said Carr.

“Kevin Nolan should be okay. Mark Vaughan had been progressing well but he has had a setback so we must also make a decision on these two.

“Considering the long term casualties that have conspired against us we just have to play with the cards we have been dealt.

“It will be a difficult task,” Carr admitted.

“We have massive respect for Portlaoise and their record in Leinster speaks for itself. They are the most successful club in the province.”

The winners will face the victors from the Garrycastle (Westmeath) versus Mattock Rangers (Louth) tie in the semi-final.