Tipperary have allayed injury fears surrounding star forward Seamus Callanan following Saturday’s All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final victory over Clare in Cork, writes Jackie Cahill.
Callanan came off in the final minute, after he was left struggling to clutch his hurl for a long period in the second half after sustaining an injury.
It’s since emerged that Callanan suffered a blow to his elbow (funny bone) and lost feeling in his fingers.
But as the dust settled on a three-point win at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Callanan’s condition had improved considerably, and he’s in no danger of missing out on an All-Ireland semi-final appearance against Cork or Galway next month.
Corner back Donagh Maher, who performed impressively, also picked up a knock but reports on his condition were positive from the Tipp camp.
Meanwhile, exiled corner back Cathal Barrett returned to club duty with Holycross-Ballycahill on Sunday.
Barrett, who sustained a serious knee injury in the Munster semi-final loss to Cork in May, featured in a one-point Cahill Cup defeat against Drom & Inch.
Given the troubles experienced by the Tipp full-back line during the Clare game, there’s a fresh clamour for Barrett’s return ahead of an All-Ireland semi-final.
Behind the scenes, the 24-year-old All-Star has worked diligently on his rehabilitation, despite being dropped from the Tipp panel for disciplinary reasons at the end of May.
The ultimate decision rests with Tipp manager Michael Ryan, however, and he's unlikely to factor public sentiment into his thinking.
