James Fitzpatrick: will be forced to spend two weeks in hospital

JAMES ‘CHA’ FITZPATRICK has emerged as a doubt for Ballyhale’s All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final clash with Portumna next month.

The game in Thurles is three weeks away and the three-time All Star has been admitted to Ardkeen Hospital in Waterford with a case of the mumps which will rule him out of any activity for the next fortnight at least.

“Hopefully we will get him back,” said teammate TJ Reid yesterday. “If we do get him back he mightn’t have too much hurling in him, but sure it is Cha.”