John Cleary: Brian Hurley and Dara Sheedy unlikely to be involved against Meath

Cork manager John Cleary has confirmed that Brian Hurley and Dara Sheedy are unlikely to play any part in Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 1 encounter against Meath.

Páirc Uí Rinn hosts the meeting at 5.30pm of the old rivals as both sides look to rebound from their respective defeats last time out. 

Cork were beaten by eight points by Kerry in the Munster final last Sunday week, while Meath haven’t played in over a month since losing to eventual champions Westmeath in the Leinster quarter-final.

While both Hurley and Sheedy are progressing, this weekend will come too soon for them. 

Cork have also suffered a fresh setback, with defender Seán Brady ruled out for the Meath game after picking up a hamstring injury in the loss to Kerry.

“Seán Brady is definitely out for the next number of weeks,” Cleary said to The Echo on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s a hamstring injury for him. He’s had no luck this year. He broke his hand earlier in the year and then suffered a hamstring injury, and it’s the other leg now. It’s just unfortunate.

“Other than that, we have no new injury concerns. It’s unlikely that Brian Hurley or Dara Sheedy will play this weekend. They are improving all the time.

“They weren’t one or two-week injuries, so it has taken that little bit longer. The last thing we wanted was them breaking down again.

“It’s unlikely that we’ll see them this weekend. We have a three-week gap to our next game after this weekend, so that will help. We’d be hoping the break will give them sufficient time to be back when the next game comes around.” 

It’s a quick turnaround for Cork after the disappointing loss to Kerry — not so much the result as the performance.

“We got back on the Wednesday and we analysed the game,” the Castlehaven man said.

“Since then, the total focus has been on Meath. It wasn’t like we were playing Kerry the following week. There were lessons we took from the game, like every day you go out. It was quickly parked because we have a big challenge against Meath this weekend.

“All of our attention turned quickly to Meath.”