Cork lose Paudie O'Sullivan to cruciate injury

It has emerged that talented Cork forward Paudie O'Sullivan will be forced to sit out the rest of the hurling season after being diagnosed with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

The 18-year-old, the youngster brother of Cork full-back Diarmuid O'Sullivan, damaged his leg in a Waterford Crystal Cup game against Waterford in February.

The initial diagnosis was a calf muscle tear but it has now become clear that the Cloyne youngster will need to undergo an operation on his cruciate next month. O'Sullivan will go in for surgery after completing his Leaving Cert exams.

The injury rules him out of Cork's championship campaign, which begins on May 27 with a mouth-watering Munster SHC clash with Clare.

O'Sullivan, who is yet to make his championship debut, made an apperance for his club Cloyne last week but he last only 15 minutes as he struggled to cope with the injury.

The teenager is expected to be one of Cork's leading lights in future seasons, having finished as the county senior championship's top scorer with 5-24. He helped Midleton CBS win the Harty Cup last season.