JBM not hopeful for Ellis
June 26, 2014
Cork's Mark Ellis leaves the field injured against Clare in the Munstewr SHC semi final at Semple Stadium. INPHO
Jimmy Barry-Murphy fears Cork's Munster SHC final date with Limerick will come too soon for Mark Ellis.
The centre back from Millstreet suffered a medial knee ligament injury in the semi-final win over All-Ireland champions Clare and is struggling to be fit for the July 13 decider.
"Mark's injury isn't responding as well as we hoped," the Rebel County manager said in the Irish Examiner.
"It's getting tight for time now for him to recover. He hasn't been training but has been doing rehabilitation work with our physio, Declan O'Sullivan.
"We're monitoring him on a day-by-day basis at this stage and we're hopeful, because Limerick are very strong, particularly down the middle of the field. Donal O'Grady is a very impressive player for them, skilful, robust, whether he's centrefield or centre-forward and I've always thought a lot of him.
"Mark has been great for us all year so if he's out it'll be a big loss for us, no doubt about that."
JBM has also welcomed confirmation that the final has been fixed for Pairc Ui Chaoimh, saying it is no more than the Cork supporters deserve.
"They've travelled everywhere to support the team for the last couple of years and it's only fair to them," he added.
"Once the attendance issue was sorted out I presumed it was always going to be in Cork and I'm glad it's been sorted out.
"This way the supporters don't have to fork out for another big trip, at least. We went to Limerick last year and were happy to go, but it's Cork's turn this year in that cycle, so that's only fair."
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