Blow for Tipperary as Fox and Quinlivan ruled out

Tipperary’s senior footballers will be without influential pair Brian Fox and Michael Quinlivan for next Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Kerry in Killarney.

Fox, who can operate at wing-back or wing-forward, is ruled out after undergoing surgery on a hand injury. And it has been confirmed that promising young forward Quinlivan, currently nursing a knee injury, will not be involved either at Fitzgerald Stadium as he intends to travel to America for a large chunk of the summer.

Tipp manager Peter Creedon had earmarked versatile Éire Óg Annacarty clubman Fox for a starting position and Quinlivan featured heavily during this year’s Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign.

But 2011 All-Ireland minor medallist Quinlivan (20) sustained a knee injury in the final League game against Offaly and although he started the Munster U21 final against Cork a few days later, the Clonmel Commercials attacker had to come off nine minutes from time.

Creedon will confirm his starting line-up later this week but another 2011 All-Ireland minor medallist, Ian Fahey, could be in line for a senior championship debut. Jason Lonergan, Philip Quirke, 2011 minor captain Liam McGrath and the Leahy brothers, Donagh and Shane, are other emerging young stars who may feature against the Kingdom.

A major boost for Tipp, however, is the return to fitness of last year’s captain, Philip Austin. The powerful Borrisokane attacker missed the entire league campaign after sustaining a serious shoulder injury against Cork in the McGrath Cup victory last January.

Inspirational defender Ciaran McDonald, captain when Tipp won the Munster U21 title in 2010, is also expected to feature after recovering from a recent injury.