Honan a doubt for Clare U-21s

Clare forward Darach Honan is a major doubt for the All-Ireland U-21 Hurling final against Kilkenny on September 13, after injuring his hamstring while in action for his club Clonlara at the weekend.

Honan sustained the injury during the second half of Clonlara's Clare Senior Hurling Championship win over Scariff last Saturday.

He will undergo an intensive rehabiliation programme during the next week-and-a-half.

However, it is expected that Sunday week's final may come too soon for the talented UCC student.

Clare manager John Minogue confirmed that Honan will struggle to be ready in time for Clare's first ever All-Ireland decider at this grade.

Minogue said: "Darach is very, very doubtful with a hamstring injury.

"Darach will go through intensive therapy over the next week-and-a-half, but at the moment he is very, very sore.

"Hamstrings are notoriously difficult to heal for some people and we are extremely worried about him."

The Clare boss also confirmed that Honan is not the only injury worry in the Clare camp at present.

"Sean Collins is definitely out as he broke his shoulder while Cathal Chaplin has a broken finger from the Galway game," he added.

"The injuries have certainly mounted in recent days when we didn't want them."