Conran hit with more injury worries

NEW Wexford hurling manager, John Conran will be without Daragh Ryan and Damien Fitzhenry for the NHL.

Ryan who underwent a cruciate knee ligament operation in November will miss the entire league campaign while All-Star goalkeeper Damian Fitzhenry is on the casualty list after breaking his cheekbone in a charity football match on New Years Day.

The injury required an operation which was undertaken in St. James’ Hospital, Dublin, on Sunday last, as his senior hurling team colleagues were jetting out for a week long sunshine holiday in Lanzarotte.

Fitzhenry will definitely miss the county’s defence of the Walsh Cup and could also miss the opening series of national league games.

“I’ve been ruled out of all contact sport for up to eight weeks. I’ll just have to take it from there,” said Fitzhenry yesterday.

Full-back Ryan, has ruled himself out of the league campaign, setting himself the championship opener with Offaly as his comeback objective.

“The knee is coming along nicely but I cannot afford to push it too hard. This is my second cruciate knee operation so I know what type of struggle I face to get back to full fitness. It’s slow but the league campaign is out for me at the moment,” added Ryan.

Meanwhile Carlow’s long serving midfielder Sean Kavanagh has announced his retirement from inter-county football. There are still doubts as to whether Éire Óg club man Willie Quinlan will reverse his decision to retire. Quinlan announced his retirement last summer but there is speculation he may have a change of heart.

Limerick football boss Liam Kearns has been given the perfect boost with the return to his panel of dual star Brian Begley. New hurling manager Dave Keane gave Begley his blessing to line out at the big ball game, and has also told Conor Fitzgerald, Brian Geary and Stephen Lucey that they are free to figure on county teams in both codes.