THE CORK HURLING management are hopeful that the potential return of both Lorcan McLoughlin and Patrick Cronin to fitness will help offset the loss of Brian Murphy for Sunday week’s Munster final against Limerick.
Murphy damaged his collarbone last Sunday in a club game and will miss the rest of the season.
But Cronin, sidelined with illness before coming on as a substitute against Clare in the recent Munster semi-final, is back pushing for a starting spot.
And while Lorcan McLoughlin’s prospects of fighting off a shoulder injury are less clear, the Kanturk club man is back in training.
“We’d be hopeful that Lorcan will be fit,” revealed Cork selector Ger Cunningham. “The next couple of days now will tell a lot. He’s back doing a bit of hurling and running. If he was available to us, it would certainly lessen the blow of losing Brian.
“He’s just coming back into (contact work) now at this stage. It might be a tad early for him. You’ve got to consider not just Sunday week but also games later on this season. You don’t want to lose him for that, it’s a bit of a balancing act really.
“Patrick’s come back in. He’s been in full training since the Clare game. It’s taken him a while to recover. But he’s been back in full training so he’ll be available for selection.”
Murphy Injury
Cunningham admitted it is a setback to lose a player of the calibre of Murphy.
“It’s a shame for himself first of all as it’s a long-term injury. He had a specific job against Clare and no better man to give a specific job to in relation to the role that he does.
“He’s a terrific defender. He’s played that role very well over the year in relation to John Mullane, Eoin Kelly and these guys.”
Cunningham, speaking yesterday at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy Legends Tour, also responded to the recent criticism by Sean Og O h’Ailpin of the Cork management’s decision not to pick John Gardiner on their squad this season.
“That’s Sean Og’s opinion. He’s entitled to say what he wants to say. Decisions are taken in all shapes and form when you go to pick teams. That’s the decision really.”
