NEWS: Paul Ormonde will miss Tipperary's opening game of their All-Ireland title defence because of a shoulder injury. The corner back becomes the latest injury problem for manager Nicky English ahead of the Munster hurling championship game against Clare in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday week.
Ormonde's injury happened while playing football with Loughmore-Castleiney in a club championship match on Saturday evening. It is expected to keep him out of action for up to four weeks.
While definitely missing the Clare match on May 19th, there is hope Ormonde will be ready for the Munster semi-final against Limerick on June 2nd should Tipperary progress. But the timing still causes concern for English as Tipperary's injury list mounts. Over the last few weeks there have been injuries to midfielder Eddie Enright, centre forward John Carroll, and wing forward Mark O'Leary, all of whom remain doubtful for the Clare match.
Enright is out with a broken finger and Carroll's knee injury remains troublesome. The ankle ligaments injury suffered by O'Leary is also slow to heal. On a positive note, forward John O'Brien has recovered from a thumb injury.
English at least has a number of options to fill Ormonde's vacancy, notably John Devane, Michael Ryan, Benny Dunne and Donncha Fahey. Noel Morris is expected to be Tomás Dunne's new partner at midfield in the absence of Enright.
Elsewhere, the Dublin hurlers suffered a similar blow ahead of next Sunday's Leinster championship against Westmeath with the loss of full forward and free-taker David Curtin. He suffered a hand injury in training on Sunday night and will be out for several weeks.
