TYRONE'S mounting injury toll is threatening to derail the defence of their Nicky Rackard Cup title.
The latest additions the casualty list are full-back Mike O’Gorman and attacker Seán Óg Grogan, and they are doubtful for Saturday’s semi-final against Roscommon at Carrickmore.
O’Gorman damaged a shoulder in last weekend’s quarter-final win over Fingal, while Grogan received a crack in the ribs.
Mark Winters was unable to play in that game, and remains a doubt, while midfielder Justin Kelly was only fit for a substitute appearance at Swords.
“You’re always concerned about injuries, because we haven’t a huge panel, and every player is key, especially experienced players at this level,” said manager Mattie Lennon.
“Mike O’Gorman came off with a shoulder injury, and Seán Óg Grogan came off with a rib injury. Mark Winters didn’t play and we’re not sure how he will be next week.
“So we have a couple of injuries, but we’ll have to deal with that. It’s part and parcel of the game.”
The Red Hands have been vulnerable to injury and a lack of recovery time during a hectic spell that has seen them play virtually every week for the past three months.
“We have played a lot of games over the last number of weeks. We have played eleven matches in twelve weeks, since the fifteenth of February,” said Lennon.
“That’s a lot of games, and five or six of those have been championship encounters, just by the nature of them. It’s tough, and we don’t have a huge squad.
“We have only a seven day turnaround, and we have picked up a few knocks and bruises.
“But we’re delighted to be in the next round, delighted to be in the semi-final, and that’s all we were looking for.”
