Brian Hayes is hoping Rob Downey will be fit to play in the Munster SHC final if Cork make it that far.

The Rebels are on course to reach the decider after winning their first three round-robin matches ahead of their final group game at home to Clare on Sunday week.

Centre back Downey suffered ankle ligament damage in Cork's opening round win over Limerick - full back Ciarán Joyce sustained a season-ending ACL injury in the same game - and is currently working his way back to full fitness.

“Like any player, he probably wants to play on the big occasions, if he wants to target that himself, but I suppose we have to make sure that we’re there first,” Hayes told reporters at the announcement that Clean Cut Meals is to become the official GAA/GPA ready meals partner for the next three years.

“He’s doing his own rehab there with physios, he’ll be a couple of weeks off yet.

“I don’t think he’s back running yet. We’ll be waiting for Rob to come back and we’ll welcome him back when he’s ready, but it’s next man up until then.”

The St Finbarr's attacker added: “I think the Waterford game was a great win to set us up nicely to get us out of Munster and get us into that All-Ireland series, but we’ll be targeting getting back to another Munster final hopefully with the Clare game.”

Tweet

Most Read Stories