Dublin suffer Boland setback

Injuries are threatening to derail Dublin's bid to reach their first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final since 1946.

Centre-back Joey Boland is the latest player to join the Dubs' injury list. He has been ruled out for six weeks after sustaining a metatarsal injury.

Boland injured himself in last Sunday's defeat to Galway at Parnell Park. Promising forward Conor McCormack also suffered a broken hand in that match and is set to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

The pair will miss Dublin's final regulation games of the league against Kilkenny this Saturday and Cork on Sunday, April 17.

But Na Fianna clubman Boland could be back in time for their Leinster SHC opener against Offaly at Parnell Park on Sunday, May 29.

Dubs boss Anthony Daly is already planning without captain Stephen Hiney who has a season-ending cruciate knee injury.

However, Liam Rushe and Shane Durkin are expected to be fit to face Kilkenny, along with Peter Kelly who is returning from a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, the Waterford hurlers will have to complete their league campaign without mercurial forward John Mullane.

The 2009 and 2010 All-Star is due to get married on Friday of next week and has been given time off by manager Davy Fitzgerald as he prepares for the wedding.

Mullane will sit out the Deise's remaining Division 1 games against Offaly this Sunday and reigning champions Galway on April 17, with the latter date clashing with his honeymoon in Mauritius.