Shane Stapleton has become the latest Dublin player to be ruled out of next Saturday's Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U21HC semi-final against Galway with a cruciate ligament injury.

The St. Pat's, Palmerstown clubman suffered the injury in training last Wednesday night and will be sidelined for the rest of the year. Stapleton was Dublin's leading scorer in the Leinster championship wins over Kilkenny and Wexford, posting 0-6 and 0-3 respectively (all from frees).

The injury is another hammer blow to Dubs boss Richard Stakelum who was already planning for next weekend's game without injured senior panellists David Treacy and Paul Schutte and dual star Rory O'Carroll, who will be in All-Ireland football semi-final action against Cork next Sunday.

Like Stapleton, Treacy ruptured his cruciate ligament during a recent training session. Tweet

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