CUSHENDALL’S Conor Carson could miss Sunday’s Ulster Club Hurling Championship final against Down champions Ballycran.
The Antrim star isn’t fully fit and, to compound that, he began training to become an airline pilot with Aer Lingus in Spain on Monday.
Carson scored one goal and played a crucial role in the other in Cushendall’s 2-12 to 0-15 victory over Loughgiel in the Antrim county final a fortnight ago. He was withdrawn late in that game and, while manager Eamon Gillan hopes to have him at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday, he is prepared for the worst.
“He isn’t ruled in or ruled out yet,” said Loughgiel native Gillan.
“He has a bit of an injury and he’s working in Spain, so it’s a two-pronged problem.
“If he’s playing, he’s playing, if not we’ll have somebody else to step in, that’s the beauty of having a panel.
“He’s keen to come back but it’s never that simple. He’ll be back at work on Monday morning so it’s getting something to get him back in time, preferably on Sunday night. We’ll see; somebody is working on it.”
Gillan added: “Whether he is fit enough is the other thing and if he can’t play then somebody else has to step into the breach.”
Sean McAfee, the player who replaced Carson late in the Antrim final, and Eunan McKillop are among the candidates to start in his absence on Sunday.
“There are options there,” said Gillan.
“People have come off the bench in the last 10-15 minutes in most of our games and made a difference.”
