There was mixed news for the walking wounded of the Railway Cup ahead of next Sunday's resumption of National Football League. Injured players with even more urgent timetables are Donegal's Jimmy McGuinness and Armagh's Oisin McConville who have forthcoming Sigerson Cup and All-Ireland club commitments.
McGuinness, a Sigerson winner with IT Tralee over the last two years but now enrolled in UUJ, is badly injured and may miss the whole competition which reaches its climax at the end of this month.
"Jim's had 10 stitches in his shin and can't play anything for two weeks," said Donegal manager Declan Bonner. "He's out for Sunday and definitely out for Jordanstown this week. The stitches aren't even being removed for a fortnight."
McConville, however, has a better prognosis with no major damage to report from his shoulder injury. "I had it X-rayed last night (Sunday) and it's badly bruised but there's nothing broken. I ran into John Divilly (Connacht and Galway centre back) which was probably foolish. It was very, very sore and I've been trying to move it all day but I'm sure it'll be fine for Sunday week."
Ahead of All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen's semi-final against UCC on February 20th, McConville and his clubmates on the county team are likely to be rested for the league match in Killarney against Kerry. "I was intending to go down to Kerry," said McConville, "but it would be silly to travel now when I could be getting treatment at home this weekend."
Armagh will return from their winter break in Lanzarote this Thursday.
Meanwhile, opponents Kerry will be able to welcome back Seamus Moynihan who missed Munster's Railway Cup semi-final against Connacht because of injury. County PRO Willie O'Connor confirmed that Moynihan was back in training and that his absence from the provincial line-up had been precautionary.
Another Ulster player in dry dock this weekend is Finbar McConnell who damaged a thigh muscle keeping goal in Sunday's final. He is due to miss a month's action. Although this is disappointing news for the Tyrone management team of Art McRory and Eugene McKenna, they won't be unprepared as McConnell had missed all the pre-Christmas league fixtures because he was taking a rest. Martin Connolly filled in.
Of the Cork players who were carted off during Munster's match against Connacht the week before last, only Sean O hAilpin is doubtful. He injured his shoulder but hasn't damaged any ligaments. Ciaran O'Sullivan and Micheal O'Donovan have recovered.
TG4, who have announced the acquisition of the live rights to Michael Carruth's WBC light middleweight championship bout with Javier Castiellijo on March 3rd, resumed their GAA coverage this weekend with a live broadcast of the Railway Cup final. Next Sunday sees coverage of the All-Ireland club hurling semi-final between Birr and Athenry.
Further broadcasts are: Feb 20th: All-Ireland club football semi-final, Crossmolina v Na Fianna; Feb 27th: Sigerson Cup final; March 5th: Fitzgibbon Cup final; March 12th: National Hurling League fixture.
