TIPPERARY ARE STILL hopeful that defenders Conor O’Mahony and Michael Cahill will be back fit for Sunday week’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final against Cork.
Both players missed the recent quarter-final win over Dublin with O’Mahony battling a back problem while Cahill had a knee injury.
“Conor O’Mahony is being closely monitored to see how he progresses,” revealed Tipperary selector Michael Ryan last night. “It’s a bulging disc issue and it’s not helped when with his occupation he drives a lot. It’s debilitating and he hasn’t got a full range of movement.
“It has improved but just how much it has improved we need to find out and we need to find out quickly. He didn’t train Monday, he was sick, so we haven’t seen him since last Thursday. Hopefully, there’s a bit of improvement.
“We’re hoping he (Michael) will take a full part (in training) tonight. Again, we’ll wait and see.”
Young attacker Niall O’Meara, who started in the Munster semi-final loss to Limerick last May, returned to club action last weekend with Kilruane McDonaghs.
“He got 40 minutes and that’s what we understood he would get,” revealed Ryan. “So we’re happy that’s on track. He has pain, he’s being pushed being under no doubts, but he’s comfortable.
“He’s where he needs to be. Hopefully, he’ll take a full part this evening. That’s the challenge for him. You’re constantly pushing these guys.”
Another U21 forward Liam McGrath continues to be sidelined.
“Liam McGrath has a bad ankle ligament sprain,” outlined Ryan. “He’s okay on straight lines but this game is probably too soon for him.”
