Sport

Murphy a doubt for Munster championship tie

CORK FOOTBALL: MIDFIELDER Nicholas Murphy is a doubt for the Cork footballers ahead of their Munster championship encounter …

Mon May 12 2008 - 01:00

CORK FOOTBALL:MIDFIELDER Nicholas Murphy is a doubt for the Cork footballers ahead of their Munster championship encounter against Limerick or Tipperary in mid-June.

Murphy was taken to hospital during Cork's 1-9 to 0-11 challenge match win over Laois at the opening of a new stand by the Crettyard GAA club in Laois on Saturday. The midfielder scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute but exited the field just 12 minutes into the second half, when he was replaced by Andrew O'Sullivan.

Cork manager Conor Counihan is hopeful Murphy's injury is not serious. "I'd be hopeful enough that it's only a bit of bruising. It's our opinion at this stage, I'm not sure but we are pretty hopeful that's all it is."

The Rebels boss was delighted with Murphy's contribution during the game, but lamented that his side did not create more goal-scoring opportunities.

READ MORE

"The goal came after a cross-field ball and a great finish by Nicholas but unfortunately there weren't enough of those type of moments in the game from our point of view."

On a positive note many of the Cork panel made their comebacks from injury, including the towering full-forward Michael Cussen.

Although introduced only for the final 15 minutes, Cussen scored a point and gave a taste of what Counihan expects him to produce over the summer.

"Michael has been out for a bit of time now and he is a big option in there so it's important that we get him back and get him back to full fitness," added Counihan.

"There's a good few lads after coming back from injury and it's their first run-out. It's good to have fellas coming back rather than losing fellas.

"Some guys have a bit of work to do in terms of fitness . . . given they have been out for a while. It's good to have them back and the more we have back, the more options we have."

Counihan praised Laois for the intensity they brought to the game.

"Laois are about two weeks away from championship at this stage so they were very much fine tuned," he said. "It was a good competitive game. We didn't play particularly well and some of the credit must go down to Laois."

Counihan revealed that most of Cork's pre-championship preparations will now be concentrated on training sessions, rather than further challenge games. "We will be doing the work more on our own training field now than in challenge matches," he said.