Sars and Toomevara hit by injuries ahead of Tipp final

TOOMEVARA and Thurles Sarsfields have major injury worries for Sunday’s Tipperary SHC final.

Francis Devaney (Toome) broke a bone in his hand in training, while Brendan Carroll (Sars), who missed the semi-final win over Nenagh with a similar injury, has only resumed light training.

Toome are also worried about inter-county star Tomás Dunne whose ankle injury is slow responding to treatment. His inter-county colleague Lar Corbett, who also missed out in the semi-final against Nenagh, continues to be troubled with a hamstring injury and is given little chance of playing.

This will be Sars fifth final appearance in four years - they were involved in a draw with Mullinahone in last year’s final - while their last success was in 1974 when a team captained by the legendary Jimmy Doyle, led the club to their 24th title.

In Clare, both Clarecastle and Ballyea have no injury worries ahead of Sunday’s SHC final. This will be the first meeting of two teams from the one parish in the final since 1909.

Fergie O’Loughlin, brother of inter-county star Ger (The Sparrow) will have mixed emotions about the decider.Despite the fact that he is a Clarecastle man through and through, Ballyea approached him at the beginning of the season to train their team.

O’Loughlin was already committed to Clarecastle, but agreed to take charge as Ballyea were competing in the “B” championship. Ballyea duly qualified for the “B” final which gave them automatic entry into the “A” championship.

Never in his wildest dreams did O’Loughlin think both teams would make it to the county final. After the semi-final, O’Loughlin had little option but to part company with Ballyea.

“No matter what happens on Sunday I’ll be back with Ballyea on Tuesday night”, said O’Loughlin. “They are in the “B” county final against Tubber in a couple of weeks time and we intend to win that”.

In Limerick, the clash of Patrickswell and Adare in the county SHC final is a repeat of the 2001 - won by Adare with plenty to spare to record their first title success. The ‘Well last won the championship in 2000 with a victory over Doon, and with no injury worries, see Sunday’s final as an opportunity to make amends.

Adare who are chasing their third title in a row, will be without Eamon Fitzgerald who hasn’t recovered from a broken collar bone sustained in a challenge.

The Cork county final is a repeat of last year when Blackrock put back to back titles together with a comfortable win over Newtownshandrum.