Rebel woe as broken collarbone ends Murphy’s year

The Cork hurlers have been dealt a blow with the news that defender Brian Murphy will not feature again this year.

Murphy was forced off injured in his club Bride Rovers’ county senior hurling championship win over Ballinhassig at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, and it has now been confirmed that he has suffered a broken collarbone.

He will undergo an operation tomorrow to repair the damage, and with a three-month recovery period needed, it means he is ruled out of Sunday week’s Munster final against Limerick and the remainder of the campaign.

“Brian is out, he has a broken collarbone and he won’t play again this year, for club or county,” Cork selector Kieran Kingston said.

Of the Cork side which beat Clare in the provincial semi-final nine days ago, Murphy and Tom Kenny were the only players to have won Munster or All-Ireland medals on the field of play, and Murphy’s injury is the latest to befall Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s side.

Captain Pa Cronin missed the Clare game as he recovered from a bout of pneumonia — with Murphy having stood in as skipper — while Lorcán McLoughlin was also absent with a shoulder problem.

In addition, attacker Paudie O’Sullivan had already been ruled out for the year after suffering a broken leg.

There is some good news, however, with the availability of Cronin for the Munster decider in the Gaelic Grounds.

“Pa will be available for selection,” confirmed Kingston.

“It’ll probably come a bit too soon for Lorcán as he’s not back in training yet, though.”