Tipperary senior hurlers are set to be without the injured Seamus Callanan for a number of weeks with the former hurler of the year is in a race against time to be fit in time for the Munster championship opening game which gets underway on April 23 against Clare in Ennis.
The former 2019 All-Ireland winning captain picked up a knock on his knee against Waterford last Saturday night in Thurles and left the field of play as a result of the injury.
The loss of Callanan in the forwards didn't cost Tipp on the night, as Jake Morris bagged a hat-trick of goals, but the experienced Drom-Inch player is likely to have a key role to play come championship time.
The three time All-Ireland medalist is now expected to be out of action for up to eight weeks with a medial knee ligament injury. Depending on healing time he may be back sooner but the eight week period will give adequate time for the injury to clear and allow some lead in time, so the star forward can be match ready come the start of the championship.
He joins a number of Tipp players already missing game time through injury. The growing list includes Niall O Meara, Ger Browne and long term absentee Craig Morgan.
It is hoped Cathal Barrett will be back for the Munster championship campaign as he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury picked up against Kilkenny in an early season league game.
Next on the list for Tipperary is a trip to Belfast to take on Antrim next Sunday. Liam Cahills panel travel to Corrigan Park having already secured a spot in the knockout stages of the league, courtesy of the win last Saturday night.
