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Mark Rodgers. Photograph: Sport Action Photography
SCARIFF have been dealt a major blow for their Clare SHC with star forward Mark Rodgers sustaining a broken bone in his arm.
An already tough year on the injury front for the 2023 Young Hurler of the Year has unfortunately got worse with the forward suffering the break during Scariff’s first round defeat to Broadford in the TUS Clare SHC.
Mark sustained the injury during the early stages of the second half five point loss to Broadford. He finished 0-6 in the tie but was restricted in his second half due to the injury which clearly hampered his involvement.
It comes on the back of an inter-county season where a dangerous high-challenge by Tipperary’s Willie Connors left the 2024 All Star sidelined for over a month and ruled him out of Clare’s sixteen point loss to Cork before returning in the thirteen point All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Dublin where he landed five points.
Rodgers is now in a cast as he begins his recovery, it is hoped that surgery will not be required but feared that he will not be featuring for the club again this season. It comes as a huge blow to Scariff who find themselves needing a win to reignite their championship campaign. The absence of their captain and talisman would make this task much more difficult.
They face county champions Éire Óg in the second round of the Clare SHC, the fixture is scheduled for 16:00 in Cusack Park on Saturday 8th.
Speaking to The Clare Echo following Friday’s defeat to Broadford before the extent of Rodgers’ injury was confirmed, Scariff manager, Donal Moloney said, “it’s bad, we will have to get him to the hospital. It happened early on as well. Hopefully he will make a quick recovery. Whatever about hurling, he has had such a difficult season and he was really looking forward to this championship but, unfortunately that’s hurling, those are the breaks”.
