SÉAMUS Flanagan is a serious injury doubt for Limerick’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final showdown with Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Sunday week (June 9).
Flanagan, who scored a memorable hat-trick against Cork, pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 10-point win by the holders over Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds.
In the words of his manager John Kiely “it’s highly unlikely that he will be involved in it (the final)”.
“He has to just go now and get his rehab done and there’s no better team of people than the people we have with us to look after him.”
Since his debut back in 2018, the 2021 All-Star has featured in over 70 matches with his county – during which he has scored a most satisfactory 12-103.
Flanagan’s surprise replacement was Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), still a month shy of his 20th birthday.
On his Championship debut, O’Brien acquitted himself very well, knocking over three delightful points.
“He’s been waiting a while to get an opportunity like that,” acknowledged Kiely of a teenager that was involved with the county Under-20s over the last couple of months, and who “came back into our group sharp”.
If Flanagan isn’t available, O’Brien, Adam English, Conor Boylan, and Donnacha Ó Dalaigh will come into the selectorial thoughts of Kiely, Paul Kinnerk, Donal O’Grady, Aonghus O’Brien, Alan Cunningham, and John Flavin.
Darragh O’Donovan, who hasn’t featured due to injury in the Championship so far, is unlikely to be on the starting blocks against The Banner.
In a progress report, Kiely suggested: “He needs more time, more game time, more training. He’s in great form, he’s making great progress every day we are on the pitch. He had a great session again this (Sunday) morning, he’ll do more next week. The most important thing is that he is fit and healthy and we’ll get him ready. We won’t play him until he is ready.”
