SHANE MCGRATH HAS emerged as an injury concern for Tipperary after last night’s Division 1A league loss to Cork.
The Tipperary captain was forced to go off towards the end of last night’s match in Páirc Uí Rinn due to a hand injury.
The Ballinahinch club man suffered the blow to his left hand and was unable to continue despite the fact that Tipperary had by that juncture used five substitutes and McGrath’s withdrawal resulted in the Premier county having to finish the game with 14 men.
McGrath left the stadium afterwards with his hand heavily bandaged and there are fears he may have suffered bone damage which could see him facing a spell on the sidelines.
Tipperary manager Eamonn O’Shea will be able to ascertain the player’s availability in the coming days but the potential loss of the player that was only announced as 2013 team captain seven days ago is a setback. Defender Conor O’Mahony is also out at present with a back problem.
Meanwhile Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald has handed out four league debuts for today’s Division 1A league clash at home to Waterford in Cusack Park in Ennis.
Corner-back David McInerney and full-forward Shane O’Donnell make their senior competitive debuts while attackers Tony Kelly and Padraig Collins make their league bows but did feature in last year’s championship.
McInerney was a member of last year’s triumphant All-Ireland U21 winning team while O’Donnell was part of the county’s successful minor setups in 2010 and 2011.
Injuries rule players like Cian Dillon, Conor McGrath and Nicky O’Connell out of the equation for Clare.
CLARE: Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), James McInerney (Newmarket-on-Fergus), David McInerney (Tulla); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Pat Donnellan (O’Callaghan Mills). Pat O’Connor (Tubber); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Fergal Lynch (Clooney-Quin), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Enda Barrett (Newmarket-on-Fergus); John Conlon (Clonlara), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Óg, Ennis), Padraig Collins (Cratloe).
