by Jackie Cahill

Clare will be without key stars John Conlon, David McInerney, Conor Ryan and Aaron Cunningham for their Munster SHC semi-final against Waterford on Sunday week, June 5.

And the Déise have been received an injury setback of their own with impact sub Thomas Ryan ruled out after breaking a finger in a recent club game for Tallow against Cappoquin.

Ryan made a big contribution off the bench in the drawn League final between the sides in particular, scoring two points.

His absence will deprive Waterford manager Derek McGrath of pace and a scoring touch from the subs bench but Clare have bigger injury concerns to contend with.

Combative forward Conlon has had a protective boot removed from his ankle injury but won't feature against Waterford.

Team-mates Tony Kelly and Jack Browne were sidelined for 12 and nine weeks respectively after suffering similar injuries earlier in the year and by the time the Waterford game comes around, it will be seven weeks since Conlon's ankle was damaged against Kilkenny in the League semi-final.

Centre back McInerney has been out since Clare clinched promotion from Division 1B against Limerick with a back problem that initially looked set to rule him out for a month.

But the injury, a bulging disc complaint, was far more serious than first thought and while arguably Clare's best defender during their League campaign is undergoing intensive treatment, he still hasn't returned to any form of contact training.

Ryan, who hasn't featured since the League quarter-final victory over Tipperary, is also set to miss out again with a calf problem.

And the hamstring injury suffered by Cunningham club duty for Wolfe Tones recently will also him out of manager Davy Fitzgerald's plans.

Tweet

Most Read Stories