Tipperary have been dealt a major blow ahead of their All-Ireland football qualifier against Louth on Sunday with the news midfielder George Hannigan has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a groin injury, according to reports.

28-year-old Hannigan limped off during his side’s Munster semi-final defeat to Kerry last month and the severity of the injury could keep him out until January.

Hanningan scored for Tipp in their Allianz League Division Three clash with Louth back in March, and will be a significant loss when the two sides meet again at Semple Stadium.

Tipperary selector Mick O’Loughlin confirmed Hannigan’s absence, he said: “George is a huge loss and had been playing very well this year.

“People could see that when he went off against Kerry, we started to lose the midfield battle.”