By Shane Brophy
Tipperary have achieved their first target for the year of reaching a National Hurling League semi-final, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.
Despite beating Galway, Tipperary were relying on a favour from Munster rivals Limerick to make the last four and they got it, just, as the Shannonsiders draw with the tribesmen meant that the Premier County only needed to avoid defeat against Antrim to finish in second place in division 1B and they duly did that with a comfortable fifteen point win to set-up a clash with Clare next Sunday in Portlaoise.
“Clare are absolutely hopping in the league at the moment,” said Tipperary manager Liam Cahill.
“They obviously have their eye on the first round of the championship as well so it will be a good encounter and will give is all a good feel for where we are at in our preparation.”
The victory over Antrim was far from a convincing at a bleak Corrigan Park, added to by an injury to Eoghan Connolly who had his arm in a sling after the game.
“It is an elbow problem, he got it stuck in the ground going through,” revealed Cahill.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything broken, just soreness which could be ligament damage around that area.”
It adds to Tipperary’s treatment room where Mark Kehoe is making good progress following the ankle injury sustained against Westmeath and could be available for a league final if Tipperary get there.
The full Tipperary squad travelled to Belfast and following the game, all those that didn’t feature against Antrim took part in a training session, including Cathal Barrett, who only undertook light jogging as he struggles to overcome a niggling hamstring problem that has kept him sidelined throughout the campaign so far.
“Cathal is just finding it hard to get himself right,” Cahill revealed.
“We just have to wait and see how it goes. Thankfully, we have a lot of options at the moment.
“Mark Kehoe is making progress as well, is three weeks into his rehab but we will be hopeful of having him back before the end of the league, and definitely before the championship.”
Last week, it was confirmed that the experienced Seamus Kennedy sustained a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee in the game against Limerick and will miss the rest of the campaign.
“I’m so disappointed for Seamus,” Cahill added.
“He is such a versatile player and is a massive player for us since I started in this position, he has been a real key man for me. When there are fires, Seamus Kennedy is the man you look to put them out, no matter where they are on the field.
“He is a top top individual the way he prepares and thinks about the game, but I do know the resilience that is in Seamus Kennedy, he will be back, and we will give him every support we can for what needs to happen. Six months’ time seems far away for him at the moment, but he will be back on the hurling field again and raring to go.”
