Updated 8.35am
CORK FOOTBALLER CIARAN Sheehan is set to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury in Sunday’s Division 1 victory over Tyrone.
Sheehan was forced off during the first-half of the clash in Healy Park in Omagh with the injury to his left shoulder as Donncha O’Connor came on to replace him.
The 22 year-old suffered the blow and underwent a scan yesterday to ascertain the extent of the damage he suffered to the AC joint in his shoulder.
The scan results confirmed the extent of the injury and Sheehan is now set to miss Cork’s remaining three league games as a result.
Cork already have injury woes up front with Patrick Kelly and Daniel Goulding having not featured yet in this year’s league campaign as they recover from hip and ankle injuries respectively.
Both players have undergone operations to rectify the problems and assist their recovery. The Rebels have a busy week of action ahead of them in the coming weeks, starting with next Saturday’s tie at home to Donegal in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Conor Counihan’s side then travel to Austin Stack Park in Tralee to face Kerry on Sunday March 24th before having a home tie against Mayo in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday April 7th.
Meanwhile three players who have lined out for Counihan in this year’s Allianz Football League will start for the Cork U21 team against Kerry in tomorrow night’s Cadbury’s Munster U21FC quarter-final in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Midfielder Damien Cahalane, who will captain the team, starts at midfield having lined out at full-back last year for the U21′s.
Cork’s Damien Cahalane.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Centre-back Tom Clancy and wing-forward John O’Rourke are the other players with senior experience this spring who are part of the U21 setup.
The trio are part of eight players who started in last year’s Munster U21 final between the counties in Austin Stack Park.
Manager John Cleary has selected from last year’s team the defensive trio of Cronin, Tom Clancy and Jamie Wall, who lined out for Mary Immaculate College in the recent Fitzgibbon Cup final.
In attack Mark Sugrue, O’Rourke, Brian Hurley and Luke Connolly are all survivors from last year’s success. In addition corner-back Brian O’Driscoll, wing-forward Alan Cadogan, a brother of Cork senior Eoin, and corner-forward Dan McEoin all came on as substitutes in last year’s decider.
CORK: David Hanrahan (Douglas); Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Conor Dorman (Bishopstown), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers); TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain); Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Mark Sugrue (Bandon), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers), Dan McEoin (Ilen Rovers).
The Cork substitutes have also been named for Wednesday night’s tie. Amongst them are Conor O’Sullivan and Kevin Hallissey who provide further experience for Cork as they featured in the 2012 final as well.
Subs: Pat Kirby (Tadgh MacCarthaigh), Conor O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), Kevin Crowley (Millstreet), Kevin Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), Sean Kiely (Ballincollig), Jamie Burns (St Finbarr’s), Kevin Hallissey (Éire Óg), Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary), Tom Hegarty (O’Donovan Rossa).
