Cork v Dublin: Séamus Harnedy, Damien Cahalane and Brian Roche all back for Rebels

Cork will have Séamus Harnedy available for Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final but Ethan Twomey remains a doubt for the clash with Dublin.

The Rebels take on the beaten Leinster finalists at FBD Semple Stadium (1.15pm) seeking to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 2021 and just the second time since 2018.

They come into the game on the back of a nine-point win over Offaly at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore last Saturday, a match which Harnedy and Twomey both missed.

The St Ita’s man, who had started every game since the Limerick clash in the Munster SHC of 2022, was kept out with a minor hamstring problem but that was just precautionary and he will be back in service in Thurles. Twomey, who came into the Cork midfield following the loss to Waterford in the opening Munster match, was forced off injured on Cork’s last trip to Semple Stadium and he remains a doubt.

However, Damien Cahalane and Brian Roche – both initially named as subs for the Tipp match before having to cry off with calf and hamstring injuries respectively and then not involved in Tullamore – are in the mix again, providing options for manager Pat Ryan.

“We’re not too sure about Ethan yet,” he said.

“He’s back into full training again this week but the game might come a bit too soon for him.

“He’s getting there, but I’d be surprised if he was able to be considered for the weekend. Séamus will be perfect.

“Damien Cahalane and Brian Roche will be in consideration and ready to go.”

Cork came away from the midlands with a 4-25 to 3-19 victory, the margin having been eroded in the closing stages with a pair of late Offaly goals.

Afterwards, Ryan bemoaned a sloppiness in the Cork play against the Joe McDonagh Cup winners. The hope now is that there will be an improvement for the game against Micheál Donoghue’s side, who are themselves seeking to bounce back from a disappointing 16-point reversal against Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

“Fellas were a bit disappointed with our consistency across the game,” Ryan said.

“There were good parts to it and then fallow parts to it. We left Offaly back into it, though they played well and showed up well in fairness to them.

“We parked that game in the hotel on Saturday evening and we’ve done a bit of work on Dublin, ready to move forward and get the lads back and ready to go.”