Cork awaits permission to face semi-final hero Mark Keane against Tipp

Cork is awaiting permission from Collingwood for field goal scoring hero Mark Keane in Sunday’s Munster SFC final, manager Ronan McCarthy revealed.

Mitchelstown man’s club Melbourne AFL is making its signed player available to his county on a game-by-game basis.

Two days after Keane’s dramatic intervention against Kerry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork made his last request to Collingwood on Tuesday and McCarthy said they hope to hear from them in the next few days.

“At the end of the day, we have to recognize that he is their player on a professional and contractual level and we are delighted with the support they have given us and him. But at some point, wherever it happens, it can become a problem and that is your right and right.

“The right way to do it is to formally ask their permission to use it and hopefully it will be available and if not, we understand it too because they have to think about themselves too. Look, he is his player, it is his decision ”.

Speaking at Cork’s final pre-Munster press conference, McCarthy acknowledged that Cork was lucky to be able to use Keane against Kerry when his final Tipperary opponents are unable to play Colin O’Riordan, who is signed by the Sydney Swans.

“We consider ourselves lucky, but every story is different. Take Ciarán Sheehan, who had a lot of injury problems when he was there. Obviously, it is not unreasonable for a club to release a player to play.

“The context is important here. Mark is obviously enrolled and has vowed to return. He’s, knock on wood, injury free and everything in between.

Clubs have to take care of themselves and when a player is recovering from injury or a long history of injuries, I don’t think it is unreasonable for a club not to release him.

McCarthy is obviously delighted that the provincial final is in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“He’s great. He looks for whatever advantage he can get. Between the league games and Kerry’s game last Sunday, we’ve done some consistent play at home, so we have to try to keep it up.”

Cork resumed training on Tuesday night, where Micheál Martin was recovering from a leg injury and others who suffered cramps during Sunday’s game did not attend the session.

“Given the wear and tear of the game, we came out pretty good,” McCarthy said.