THE CORK SENIOR management teams will consult with dual star Eoin Cadogan tomorrow before deciding which inter-county outfit the defender will line out for on the weekend of July 7th-8th. The 25 year-old has a major dilemma with the Cork hurlers playing Offaly in an All-Ireland hurling qualifier tie at 7pm in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday July 7th and 19 hours later the Cork football side taking to the field in the Gaelic Grounds for their Munster final showdown with Clare at 2pm. Cork hurling selector Kieran Kingston told TheScore.ie that it was not feasible to expect Cadogan to line out in both games.
“We’ll talk to Eoin tomorrow and of course we’ll be consulting with the Cork senior football management as well. It’s a big game for us as we’re now in the qualifiers and it’s completely knockout from here on in. But we’re very conscious of how important the Munster football final is as well. To be fair to Eoin, it would be very difficult to ask him to peak for two games in such a short space of time. I don’t think he can be expected to do that.”
Cork will have to plan again without attacker Niall McCarthy for that clash with Offaly as he will continue to be sidelined with the broken knuckle that ruled him out of yesterday’s Munster championship defeat against Tipperary. McCarthy sustained the injury in a recent club game and while he is making good progress in his recovery, it is expected that the phase two qualifier game will arrive too soon for the Carrigtwohill man.
The Cork management will also be keeping their fingers crossed that the seven members of Sunday’s starting fifteen who are involved in Cork club action this week will emerge unscathed. Goalkeeper Anthony Nash and midfielder Lorcan McLoughlin line out for Kanturk in the IHC against Éire Óg tomorrow night while on Wednesday night the Bishopstown duo of Shane O’Neill and Patrick Cronin face a Glen Rovers team containing Patrick Horgan in the second round of the SHC. Also on Wednesday night, Darren Sweetnam will be in action for divisional team Carbery in the SHC against third-level outfit Cork IT while Paudie O’Sullivan plays for Cloyne in the IFC second round against Aghabullogue.
“There’s a good few games on and we’re just hoping everyone will pull through,” said Kingston. “While home advantage is a big plus for us in the qualifier against Offaly, only a point separated the teams when they met last summer in the qualifiers. At this stage every game is going to be a real challenge as you’re in a do or die situation with the back door gone.
“But we’re hoping to build on the Tipperary match where we were thrilled with the attitude of the players. We were disappointed with the loss and probably weren’t clinical enough at times when we needed to be. But the inexperienced players, who haven’t won anything at senior level, really stepped up to the mark and produced a great effort. We’re hoping to take it on from here now.”
