*Eamonn Foudy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
EAMONN FOUDY’s injury is not as bad as first feared but it will rule him out of the running for Clare’s opening contest in the Munster senior hurling championship.
Worry had been expressed that the Inagh/Kilnamona goalkeeper was set for a season on the sideline but thankfully scans this week have shown the primary school teacher has avoided the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The Clare Echo understands that Foudy has sustained a tear to his meniscus. The menisci are two crescent-shaped pads of thick, rubbery shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee joint. Foudy picked up the injury after twisting his knee while involved with the county set-up.
While avoiding an ACL injury is a huge relief to the Mary Immaculate College graduate, the timing of the setback is very cruel given how well he had fared in starting appearances against Wexford and Galway in the Allianz National Hurling League both from a shot-stopping and distribution perspective which saw him strongly challenge for the goalkeeper’s spot.
Eibhear Quilligan who has been first choice goalkeeper during Lohan’s four year tenure as manager lined out between the posts at the weekend and for the first two rounds of the Allianz National Hurling League. The Feakle native will now be battling with former Clare U20 shotstopper Cian Broderick for the number one jersey in the first round of what will be a very competitive Munster championship.
Speaking following Clare’s draw with Cork, manager Brian Lohan expressed confidence that he will have a full squad to pick from for the opening round of the provincial series against Tipperary on April 23rd, except for Foudy.
As previously reported by The Clare Echo, Shane O’Donnell has returned to training with the county side and will be available for selection in the opening round. Mark Rodgers remains sidelined but will be back in the picture for the home tie against Tipperary.
Rory Hayes has a broken bone in his wrist which makes him a doubt for the first round while Shane Meehan is still out of action with a pelvic injury.
