Tipperary play waiting game for Colin O’Riordan for Munster U21 football final

TIPPERARY boss Tommy Toomey will consult with Colin O’Riordan, the player’s parents and medical staff before making a call on the captain’s availability for the Munster U21 football final against Cork on April 9.

O’Riordan, 19, suffered a neck injury in Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 3 victory over Sligo.

The player was monitored on the pitch for 20 minutes before being stretchered off and was detained in hospital in Clonmel on Sunday night after undergoing a CT scan on his spine, which showed up clear.

But O’Riordan suffered concussion in the clash with corner back Ross Donovan. Toomey said: “Concussion is a big issue and is getting more highlighted every week. You have to put the players first and that’s what we’ll be trying to do this week. We’ll see how Colin is and how his parents feel about it. We’ll have to go with their wishes as well. It’s a wait and see issue.”

Toomey revealed: “He (O’Riordan) was feeling sick after the incident. He was relieved that the scan was clear but worried when the incident happened that his grip was weak. He was on the ground talking to our physio Marie Aherne all the time. She felt he could have had an impact on his neck and he was experiencing pins and needles. It was worrying for a while and what they felt was that when Colin hit the ground, his neck jerked back, a bit like being hit from behind in a car and suffering whiplash. The scan was clear and that took the worry away from himself and he began to recover. He was kept in on Sunday night, which is normal procedure with concussion.”

Toomey was in touch with O’Riordan via text message on Sunday evening and confirmed that the former dual All-Ireland minor medallist will be present at training this evening .

But O’Riordan will play no part in the get-together as Tipperary prepare for Sunday’s final League outing of the season against Wexford.