Injury concerns mount for senior hurlers

THERE are a number of major injury concerns for Clare senior hurling manager Ger O’Loughlin and his backroom team as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for the Munster Senior Championship clash with Waterford on June 7.
Gerry O’Grady is definitely out due to an ankle injury that has caused him a lot of problems over the past two years. While he did play for his club Crusheen at the weekend, he has withdrawn from the county squad because of the injury.
The chances of Newmarket’s James McInerney playing any part in the game are growing slimmer by the minute. He hasn’t played for club or county in more than a month due to a stomach muscle complaint. He is due to see a specialist this week, after which there will be a clearer picture.
“It’s a major concern, as he hasn’t played in over a month,” O’Loughlin said this week when conceding that McInerney’s chances of playing are dwindling by the minute.
The Clare backroom team hope to see Gerry Quinn back in full training this weekend. He suffered a leg injury early in the league final against Wexford and hasn’t played since, missing out on his club Corofin’s championship clash with Crusheen last week.
Quinn has missed most of the season due to injury and it remains to be seen if he can regain fitness in time to play a part in the provincial semi-final.
Clonlara’s Nicky O’Connell and Domhnaill O’Donovan both picked up injuries last weekend and didn’t finish their club’s championship tie with St Joseph’s. Hopes were high that O’Connell would have recovered from a dead leg in time to play against Tipperary in the recent friendly in Thurles. O’Donovan picked up a shoulder injury but hopes to return to training next week.
Clubmate Darach Honan is also expected back next week, having had exam commitments last week.
Alan Markham is another who is on the injured list having picked up a nasty finger injury in his club’s clash with Scariff last weekend that necessitated a number of stitches.
Barry Nugent (Éire Óg) and David Ryan (Cratloe) have withdrawn from the panel. Ryan has cited work commitments while Nugent is understood to have explained to the management that he wasn’t happy with his form at present. Conor McMahon (Kilmaley) and Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona) have been released from the squad.
Despite much speculation, there has been no additions to the panel since the league campaign concluded.
“We will bring in some additional players for practice games but the team for the championship will come from the existing panel,” O’Loughlin said.
“We have to up the pace and the intensity of our game from the Wexford match if we are to trouble Waterford,” the Clarecastle man added.
“We are facing a busy 12 days and there will be no distractions. The players will not be involved with their clubs until after our championship game,” the manager said.