Morgan rues loss of star defender Lynch
BILLY MORGAN must have woke up yesterday morning wondering if he had offended a black cat while walking under a ladder after breaking a mirror.
His luck chain snapped on Saturday when a routine training match in Pairc Ui Chaoimh yielded a serious casualty in the form of defender Anthony Lynch, who broke a bone in his left hand. Lynch misses next Sunday's All-Ireland final, a setback which Cork's finally balanced set-up can ill-afford.
The suggested remedy is to re-locate John Miskella from wing-forward to wing-back, with James Masters, who has recovered from a broken jaw, returning to the attack.
At first inspection, it looks all very neat and efficient. Miskella, who would probably have lost his place to Masters anyway, is a tidy wing-back who brings an attacking dimension to his game.
However, he is no Anthony Lynch, a man whose loss has tilted the scales even further towards Kerry. Lynch (30) has been a strong defensive anchor for Cork since 1999. In fact, together with Nicholas Murphy, he is the only survivor on the starting 15 from the team which lost the '99 final to Meath.
Larry Tompkins managed that side and was also in charge for another four seasons so he knows just how important Lynch is to Cork.
"His leadership will be badly missed,'' said Tompkins.
"In situations like this, you can often replace a player in terms of the basics, but you can't replace leadership or experience. That's why Anthony will be such a loss to Cork next Sunday.
"His absence is a serious blow to Cork and a terrible disappointment because he has put so much time and effort into his football."
Lynch's absence increases the pressure on the other Cork defenders to raise their game and make up for the loss of a player who thrived on the big occasion.
Tompkins said: "At least the injury came eight days before the final so it gives the players and management a chance to work things out in detail.
"They know Anthony won't be playing so there will be a sense of winning it for him."
