Counting the Cost

Defeating the All Ireland champions and completing a perfect Munster Championship should have led to immense satisfaction among Tipperary supporters coming away from Semple Stadium on Sunday.

However, the 1-22 to 0-21 win over Limerick was a little hollow following the injuries sustained to Patrick Maher and Cathal Barrett.

Patrick Maher ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which will rule the half forward out of the rest of the campaign and a likely 9-12 month spell on the sidelines.

It is cruel luck for the Lorrha man who has been in outstanding form in the championship so far and also robs Tipperary of a key player in attack as the games now up in importance, beginning with the Munster Final against Limerick on Sunday week.

The news is better for Cathal Barrett who limped off on 33 minutes with a hamstring injury, however, with just two weeks to the Munster Final, the corner back is highly unlikely to be fit for that game and in any case, Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy would be unlikely to risk him in a game that isn't fully knockout if he isn't one hundred percent fit.

“With any type of strain it will take longer than a week or two I would imagine,” Sheedy said.

 

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