Clare hurler Pat Vaughan is starting out on the long road to recovery after undergoing surgery to repair a hip injury.

The Crusheen defender, who captained the Banner County last year, is expected to be sidelined for three months and will therefore play no part in this year's Allianz Hurling League. His Clare team-mate Daroch Horan recently underwent a similar operation, and the earliest new Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald can expect to have the duo back is for the Munster SHC opener against Waterford on June 17.

Clare defeated Limerick on Tuesday evening in their Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final replay at the Gaelic Grounds to set up a semi-final meeting with Waterford on Sunday, and one of the positives Fitzgerald took from the victory was the impressive return of Tony Carmody to the blue and saffron jersey. Tweet

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