Hamstring injury has Kenny doubtful for Cork's opener

TEAM NEWS:THERE WILL be an anxious wait for both Cork managers before the big Munster championship hurling and football matches with Tipperary and Kerry.

Experienced centrefielder Tom Kenny injured his hamstring playing championship for his club Grenagh against St Michael’s.

“Tom was visiting hospital today (Monday),” according to county PRO Ger Lane last night, “and there’s no definite news about whether he’ll be fit in time, but he doesn’t have much time.”

The Cork-Tipperary match takes place on Sunday week and Denis Walsh’s NHL finalists are already coping with problems.

“Michael Cussen is already likely to miss the game,” said Lane – the big former footballer broke a bone in his hand in the league final defeat by Galway – “and Eoin Cadogan still hasn’t played or trained and must be a major doubt.”

Cadogan, the first choice full back, is a dual player and unlikely to play against Kerry in Killarney a week after the hurling first round if he isn’t fit for the latter.

Better news is the return of Niall McCarthy, who played in the weekend challenge against a shadow Galway team.

Conor Counihan’s footballers also have their problems. Experienced centrefielder Nicholas Murphy is out for the championship opener.

“Nicholas is gone now for the Kerry game. The back problem that kept him out for a lot of the league is a problem with the spine and he needs to rest it for four to six weeks. Anthony Lynch didn’t play at the weekend for his club, and although John Miskella came on late in the game for Ballincollig he’s not expected to play in Killarney.”

Meanwhile, defender PJ Quinn has suffered a setback in his attempt to reclaim his place in the Tyrone team for Sunday’s Ulster championship first round against Antrim. Quinn, a regular at corner back last season, missed the National League due to a back injury but now an Achilles problem is threatening his comeback for Casement Park on Sunday.

“PJ aggravated an Achilles injury. He was back from his back injury and was going well,” said assistant manager Tony Donnelly. “It could make him doubtful for the weekend, so we’ll just have to see how that goes over the next couple of days.

“He injured his back at work, and had to take six weeks rest, then get back into physio and built it up. He had played a couple of times for his club Moortown and was going well.”

Concerns over former minor star Kyle Coney, who has been suffering from a back spasm, are easing. “Kyle was able to train at the weekend, he seems to be over that, and hopefully he will be okay and back in the running.”

Centre back Conor Gormley has returned to training following a knee injury, but will play no part in Tyrone’s first defence of the Ulster title this weekend.

“He has been doing straight line running and things like that, but he’s not going to be in contention for the Antrim game,” said Donnelly.

Cavan have received a major boost ahead of next month’s Ulster quarter-final against Fermanagh after key attacker Seán Johnston returned to action at the weekend for the first since February.

The corner forward came on as a substitute in Cavan Gaels’ surprise defeat to Lacken in the ACFL Division One, having recovered from the broken elbow he suffered during DCU’s successful Sigerson Cup campaign which ruled him out of Cavan’s entire National Football League campaign.

The news is a timely boost for Cavan boss Tommy Carr, who watched his side suffer a 0-13 to 0-4 loss at the hands of Mayo on Saturday night in Belmullet.