John Cleary issues squad update ahead of All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Dublin

Cork manager John Cleary has more or less a full-strength squad to pick from ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final against Dublin in Croke Park (6.15pm).

Kevin O’Donovan remains a long-term absentee with Paul Walsh a doubt for the weekend. Other than that, the Rebels have a clean bit of health after a tough battle with Roscommon last weekend.

Cleary is pleased that the injury situation has cleared up after a challenging start to the campaign with injuries. 

“Paul Walsh is 50/50 for the weekend,” the Castlehaven clubman said to The Echo on Tuesday afternoon.

“We will monitor Paul as the week goes on and see from there. He picked up a quad injury during the Roscommon game. I don’t know whether he will be good to go or not for Saturday until he gets fully assessed.

“Other than that, we have no other injury concerns ahead of the weekend. It’s great that we have pretty much a full panel to select from. At the start of the season, we had a lot of injuries, some carrying on from last year, but thankfully the majority have come back. These are all pressure games and they are coming so fast so it’s vital that you have a panel.

“We have a strong bench. There were guys that didn’t come on the last day and we would have loved to have brought them on. They are quality players and as I said to them afterwards, in a lot of inter-county teams, they would be coming on or starting. We have a strong panel of 36 players.” 

The Rebels would have been out of the championship had they not beaten Roscommon in their final group game last Saturday at Laois Hire O’Moore Park. It’s a quick turnaround for the big game against Dublin, but it’s a great complaint to have.

“It’s tough going playing week-on-week at this stage of the season,” Cleary says.

“At least for this coming weekend, we are no different than anyone else. Dublin had a hard game as well last weekend against Derry and got over the line.

“The winners will probably be at a disadvantage in that the quarter-finals are on the following weekend. The four quarter-finalists are sitting at home this weekend relaxing and preparing.

“The eight teams who are in action, four will have to go again for the third week on the bounce a week later, which is tough.

“If you gave me that choice now, I would bite your hand off for it.” Cleary concluded.

Meanwhile, the Football Review Committee's proposal to amend the 50-metre penalty for a foul on a player who catches a kick-out mark has been approved by Central Council and will be in operational on Saturday in Croker. It will now just be a free from where the foul has taken place.

The 50-metre penalty rule came in for sharp criticism recently. Cleary and Kerry manager Jack O’Connor were among those who called for change following their recent All-Ireland SFC Group 2 clash.