Barrett out for two months

Waterford hurler Eddie Barrett will be out of action for two months due to a serious knee injury.

Barrett, 24, dislocated his right knee cap on his first championship start against Cork on Sunday but after consulting with specialist Tadhg O’Sullivan, surgery has been ruled out.

Instead, Barrett will allow the injury to heal naturally but if he suffers another recurrence, the De La Salle player may require knee reconstruction.

Barrett revealed: “When I was 18, I was playing a soccer match for Waterford youths and I dislocated the knee cap. That was against Wexford Youths in a cup final at Ozier Park. I seem to have a habit of getting injured in big matches. It kept me out a long time but I had no problem after that.”

Barrett went off after 21 minutes in Thurles and recalled: “It was the way I landed. Someone gave me a bang in the back of the knee. The last time it happened was six years ago and this time, Tadhg said he’s going to chance not having an operation and try to let it set. It would be wicked disappointing to miss out for the whole year and I was happy when he said leave it set.

“I can’t work for the next couple of weeks, which is a killer, but it could be worse.”