Lengthy injury list impacting Tipp plans
WEXFORD v TIPPERARY
Innovate Wexford Park
Sunday 17th February
Throw-in @ 2.00pm.
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Liam Sheedy knew he wasn’t going to re-enter the inter-county management game smoothly but not even he would have countenanced for the injuries that have hit his squad less than three months into his second reign.
Tipperary may well have one win from two games in the league so far and aren’t struggling unlike some counties but that win over Clare and subsequent loss to Limerick came with a limited hand with Liam Sheedy revealing he had just 26 fit players for their most recent game at the Gaelic Grounds, having to put John McGrath onto the bench to make up the full compliment despite the forward having only recently returned to full training following a groin injury.
“We just have a massively long injury list at the moment and hopefully it will start to improve,” admitted the Tipperary manager who provided a lengthy injured update ahead of Sunday’s round 3 trip to Wexford.
“We have an awful lot of knocks which is not helpful because you are trying to get that fifteen on fifteen for that really competitive match internally. If we have 22 or 23 on the field any night, there are always a few carrying knocks, the side of the pitch is nearly the busiest place.
“I’d like to think by the end of February that the likes of Colin English who has hardly seen any action since prior to Christmas, since he got knocked out in a Mary I match. Paddy Cadell has literally played ten minutes in the Fitzgibbon and that has been it and is out for another four weeks after surgery on his knee.
“Jerome Cahill, we got him back from a hand injury and then went and damaged himself in a freak accident in training so he hasn’t seen any action yet.
“Brian McGrath likewise, we’d have loved to have seen him but unfortunately the hamstring has come against him.
“They are four up and coming young guys that you would love to get a bit of league experience into but unfortunately they are injured."
To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.