LAR CORBETT WILL miss out again for Tipperary for Sunday’s Allianz hurling league final while exciting young forward Niall O’Meara has emerged as an injury concern before the match against Kilkenny.
33 year-old Corbett has not figured in this year’s league campaign and Tipperary assistant manager Michael Ryan revealed that the 2010 Hurler of the Year will miss out again.
“He’s had some treatment on it – it is a problem at the back of his knee. It’s not a structural thing as I understand it, and don’t quote me in terms of medical stuff.
“It’s not ligaments and it’s not cartilage. He’s seeing the top guys and we remain very positive that we’ll have Lar in the near term.
“We’re a little over five weeks out now to the championship and that’s what we’re setting our target as for Lar. We’ll see. If he’s available we’ll be thrilled, if not, the show goes on. It’s as simple as that.”
Tipperary’s key doubt ahead of next Sunday’s showdown in Thurles is Niall O’Meara. The Kilruane MacDonaghs player missed his club’s weekend victory over Cashel King Cormacs with a hand injury sustained in the league semi-final victory over Clare.
Premier County medics are assessing the problem and there are unconfirmed reports that O’Meara, who captained Tipperary’s U21s last year, may have broken a finger.
O’Meara goaled on his League debut against Cork in the league quarter-final and he made a big impact in the semi-final victory over Clare, registering three points from play.
Meanwhile, Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher is expected to be fit despite a minor quad strain.
Maher, 24, was injured training with Tipperary in Clonea last week and while he missed Lorrha & Dorrha’s county SHC victory over Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams last weekend, he is expected to line out against Kilkenny.
Goalkeeper Darren Gleeson did not start for his club Portroe at the weekend while Gearóid Ryan, who has made a welcome return to intercounty hurling, sustained a nasty head injury on duty with Templederry Kenyons.
Liam McGrath, captain of Tipperary’s All-Ireland minor winning footballers in 2011, picked up a fresh hamstring problem and Paddy Stapleton is a major doubt with a hand injury.
Manager Eamon O’Shea will monitor the injury situation over the coming days.
