Clare’s hopes of beating Kilkenny in Sunday’s Allianz hurling league has been dealt a blow with the news that Conor Ryan is unlikely to play any part in the game.

The Cratloe man didn’t see any action in the club leagues last week and hasn’t been able to train all week.

Hopes of having David McInerney and Shane O’Donnell back have been dashed and neither are expected to be ready for action for another two weeks. Both missed the quarter final win over Tipperary and neither played with their clubs last week. Hopes of a lreturn for Peter Duggan have also been dashed and there are fears that the Clooney-Quin man may be out of action for a considerable time due to the recurrence of a back injury

The team to face Kilkenny isn’t expected to be named before Saturday when Seadna Morey and Tony Kelly could be included in the match day panel for the first time in this season’s league

By Seamus Hayes