Hickey to miss Tipp clash; Hannon a doubt

Defender Seamus Hickey will play no part in Limerick's Munster SHC quarter-final against Tipperary after breaking his elbow in a club game last Sunday.

Hickey, a former Young Hurler of the Year, suffered the injury when taking a line ball during the closing stages of Murroe-Boher's County Championship win over Ahane.

Reacting to the news, Limerick boss John Allen said: "Seamus is going to be missing (for the Tipperary match on May 27) and he'll be a huge loss.

"We were looking at him coming back after the league, that he'd give huge impetus to our backline. He played four games for us since the league finished and he was very good, very fit and now he's out. It's a huge loss."

Hickey played at centre back and corner back in recent challenge games for the Shannonsiders, having missed the Allianz League as he was studying in America.

But he is now facing a lay-off of between six and eight weeks, meaning that should Limerick beat Tipp he will be doubtful for a Munster semi-final date with Cork on June 24.

Allen is monitoring the fitness of young forward Declan Hannon ahead of the start of the Championship. Due to an ongoing groin problem, the 19-year-old has not lined out for Limerick since February.

"Declan (Hannon) is a bit like Lar Corbett, he's hopefully making his way back onto the team," admitted Allen.

“He's missed a huge amount of training, all the conditioning work. But he's now available for training again and I'm happy that at least he is there.

"How much progress he makes over the next couple of weeks I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

The Adare ace is itching to play against Tipp after missing out on his Munster Championship debut last year as it clashed with his Leaving Certificate exams.