Conlon should be ready for final

AS preparations for the All-Ireland senior hurling final with Cork continue, Clare forward John Conlon is an injury concern. The Clonlara man was replaced early in the second half of Sunday’s semi-final, having struggled with a shoulder injury he picked up early in the game.

He left the grounds after the game with his arm in a sling and has been receiving treatment this week. Hopes are high that he will be able to resume training early next week ahead of the big game.

The Clonlara man, who graduated from Mary Immaculate College earlier this year, has had a number of injuries this season. He suffered concussion in the Munster semi-final game against Cork, which kept him out of action for a couple of weeks.

Selector, Mike Deegan is keeping his fingers crossed there won’t be any further injuries before the final. “Obviously, we hope that all will get through the U-21 tie without injury but games have to be played and the reality is one could get injured in training,” he said.

On Wednesday, the team’s press night ahead of the final was held at the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis where Deegan was joined by team captain, Pat Donnellan, Colin Ryan, Fergal Lynch and Jonathon Clancy.

Having given their views on the team’s progress to the decider to the various media outlets, they made the short journey to Cusack Park for training, which went ahead without half of the squad, who are this week focussing on Saturday’s All-Ireland U-21 semi-final date with Galway and who had been back in the training field on Tuesday evening to prepare for that fixture.

Getting to the All-Ireland final wasn’t one of the team’s goals at the beginning of the year, according to selector Deegan.

“Starting out in the league, the big thing as far as I was concerned was survival and giving fellas confidence, which you gain from playing against the likes of Tipperary, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny. After these games, fellas realised they were as good as them and that gives confidence,” the Cratloe man said.