TIPPERARY SENIOR HURLING manager Michael Ryan has trimmed six players from his extended panel ahead of next Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League quarter-final against Clare, as corner back Michael Cahill faces an extended spell on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Following a training camp at Breaffy House in Mayo last week, Ryan has released Conor Kenny, Joe O’Dwyer, Kieran Morris, Joe Gallagher, Bill Maher and Sean Ryan.
Kenny’s exclusion is perhaps the most surprising as he was moving well in pre-season challenge matches and, playing at full-forward, the Borrisoleigh clubman scored three points from play in the opening round victory over Dublin.
Kenny also picked off two points in the defeat to Kilkenny but one of those scores was a decent goal chance and he was eventually taken off with over 20 minutes remaining in the Nowlan Park fixture.
Former Kildare player Kenny has fallen down the pecking order since then and Seamus Callanan’s return to full fitness will see the him restored to the edge of the opposition square.
Ryan’s squad cut will have been noted with interest by his football counterpart Liam Kearns, who had been hopeful that dual players Steven O’Brien and Seamus Kennedy, who have not featured in the League, might be made available.
Both players, however, have been retained although another possible candidate for Kearns, 2011 All-Ireland minor football winner Bill Maher, will now be asked to link up with the footballers.
Kearns believes that Tipp would be capable of competing in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League but only if all players he would like to have on board were free to do so.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Kildare in Clonmel, Kearns also admitted that it’s frustrating to see dual players who would be automatic starters for the footballers not featuring with Ryan’s hurlers.
He said: “Yeah, it is, no point in saying otherwise. (There’s) not a lot we can do about that though.”
Meanwhile, the injury suffered by Cahill against Galway in the recent Salthill stalemate is worse than first feared.
The Thurles Sarsfields defender missed the victory over Cork last Sunday week and will play no part against Clare at Cusack Park next Sunday either.
Cahill is nursing a hamstring problem that could see him ruled out of action for up to a month.
Worst case estimates of six weeks would see Cahill facing a race against time to be fully fit for the May 22 Munster SHC quarter-final with Cork.
He may play no further part in the Allianz Hurling League, provided Tipperary progress, but manager Ryan will be confident of having the 27-year-old available for the championship opener with the Rebels.
In Cahill’s absence, Conor O’Brien occupied the number 4 shirt against Cork and following a solid outing, he’s expected to hold his place for the visit to Clare.
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