THE CORK HURLERS have been hit with a fresh injury blow with young defender Colm Spillane ruled out for the season after tearing his cruciate last Saturday night against Waterford.

Colm Spillane (second right) in action against Waterford last Saturday night. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Spillane suffered the injury in the second-half of Cork’s defeat against the Deise and was forced off in the 48th minute when he was replaced by Cormac Murphy.

A scan yesterday revealed the extent of the injury and Spillane is facing the rest of the season on the sidelines.

“The news is devastating, firstly for the player himself and it is a huge blow for us as a management team,” remarked Cork boss Kieran Kingston, when speaking to the Evening Echo newspaper this morning.

Cork hurling boss Kieran Kingston. Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO / INPHO

“He’s a big loss to our plans going forward because he was going very well.”

22 year-old Spillane was called up to the Cork senior hurling squad this year by new boss Kingston.

He featured for the Cork U21′s in their 2014 Munster final loss to Clare and has played Fitzgibbon Cup for UCC this season.

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