BANNER STAR CONOR CLEAR TO FACE GALWAY AFTER SCAN ALLAYS FEARS.

Byline: PADDY HICKEY

CLARE hurlers have received a massive boost with the news that Conor Cooney could be available for their All-Ireland Qualifiers' clash against Galway on Saturday week, at Cusack Park.

Full-back Cooney, who suffered an ankle injury four weeks ago, has got the all-clear to continue training following the results of a scan last week. The O'Callaghan Mills star, who missed the Munster semi-final loss to Tipperary on June 21, started light jogging two weeks ago.

But because it was felt by the Banner County medical people that his progress was a little slow, it was decided it would be advisable if the player had a scan on his ankle.

Originally, it was believed that Cooney had fractured his ankle, but an X-ray revealed that this was not the case. "Conor's ankle was still a little sore, but thankfully the scan showed that he wouldn't do any damage to it by continuing to do the training," said Clare selector Alan Cunningham.

"At the moment, I would say that Conor is 85 to 90 per cent where we would like him to be physically. But we've got to make sure that we don't push him too hard in case he aggravates the injury, and does some long term damage to his ankle."

CAPTION(S):

ANKLE Conor Cooney