*Shane O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SHANE O’DONNELL will not play any part of this year’s Allianz National Hurling League.
By Brendan Furlong
Brian Lohan was happy to have preserved their unbeaten record but must plan for the remainder of their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 Group A campaign without three of his key players.
While Lohan was happy with their league position, two wins and one draw, he said, “we’re trying to improve and learn a bit about the newer lads”.
Asked about the injured players, “Obviously, being down a couple of marquee guys, we want guys to stand up and show a bit of leadership, so I’m happy enough so far,’ Lohan added.
However, Lohan has ruled both Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell out of the current league campaign while Ryan Taylor continues his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Lohan said attacker O’Donnell will not see action in the league, with Kelly also out of consideration.
Former Hurler of the Year Kelly is still going through rehabilitation after ankle surgery before Christmas, while two-time All Star forward Shane O’Donnell will not see action until the Munster senior hurling championship Round-Robin in late April.
“We won’t see him in the league, no”, Lohan said of O’Donnell, going on to provide an update on the fitness of Kelly.
“Tony’s with the physios and the consultant, so he’s doing what he does. He’s working really hard and we’re hoping he’ll be right for late in the year,” added Lohan.
Clare are joint top of their Division with Kilkenny on 5 points, with the Cats having a slightly superior scoring aggregate, while Wexford slot into third spot on three points from three draws, with both Waterford and Cork on one win each, with Offaly propping up the table on a single point looking destined for relegation.
Wexford Manager Keith Rossiter, already carrying a lengthy injury list, will have some restless nights as he awaits fitness updates on both Lee Chin and Kevin Foley.
The experienced duo Chin (muscle) and Foley (knee) will undergo extensive treatment this week in an effort to be available for their two crucial final round games with Waterford (A) and Cork (H), as they battle to remain in the top three, while defeats could put them into relegation bother.
Rossiter said, “We’ll know more later in the week at training. Both will be assessed as to the extent of the injuries”.
Meanwhile, Matthew O’Hanlon was part of the match day squad for the first time since last season’s championship victory over Kilkenny. “We had been hoping to get some minutes into him, but that did not materialise. He kept himself right while travelling”.
On the remaining players, Rory O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Liam Og McGovern, Liam Ryan and Conor McDonald, Rossiter said “they are getting there, but we don’t have exact days for their return”. However, forward Oisin Foley looks set to sit out the season with an ongoing groin problem.
