Diarmuid Healy likely to miss Cork's first two championship outings

Diarmuid Healy is almost certain to miss Cork’s opening two Munster SHC clashes against Tipperary and Limerick.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the Allianz HL final against Limerick on Easter Sunday, April 5, Cork manager Ben O’Connor provided an injury update and revealed that the Lisgoold man is set for at least another month on the sidelines as he works his way back from a quad injury.

After the championship opener in Thurles on April 19, Cork host Limerick a week later and then there is a gap to the third outing, away to Waterford on May 9.

“He'll have another four or five weeks ahead of him, at least,” O’Connor said, “but we won't know more until he's scanned.

“I think he was scanned four weeks ago and he's waiting to be scanned again just to see. But he hasn't trained with us. He's doing his own rehab with [physios] Ruairí [Wedel] and Kevin [O’Brien]."

Having featured in the wins over Waterford and Tipperary in the earlier part of the league campaign, Healy missed the last three matches.

“He was never injured before, either,” O’Connor said.

“When he hurt it, he didn't know how bad it was because he was never injured before. I suppose it's the first time that he's been sitting out and watching fellas training, so it's not nice for him.

“But it's all part of it. The older he gets, he'll figure out how to pass his time. It's just unfortunate for him, especially after a breakthrough season last year and getting to a league final now, which he's going to lose out on.”

Otherwise, Cork are close to full fitness, with twins Brian and Eoin Roche the only others battling injuries – Alan Connolly was brought off at half-time in Saturday’s win over Offaly but that was merely a precaution.

“We have a couple more now, the two Roches,” O’Connor said.

“Eoin got hurt at the weekend playing for Bride Rovers and Brian has been out for a while with his ankle.”