Tipperary’s Stapleton to miss national hurling league final

Fellow defender Pádraic Maher fit to face Kilkenny

Tipperary defender Paddy Stapleton will miss Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final against Kilkenny, with confirmation last night he had broken a bone in his hand on duty with his club, Borris-Ileigh, over the weekend.

Stapleton should recover for Tipp’s Munster hurling semi-final against Limerick on June 9th, while there was better news for fellow defender Pádraic Maher, who will be fit for Sunday having recovered from an arm injury.

Donegal's footballer-of-the-year Karl Lacey has also made his return to full training, and is in line to start against Tyrone in Ballybofey on May 26th: Lacey has not played a competitive game in six months.

Anthony Price (back) and Philip Gilsenan (knee) have been ruled out of Westmeath’s Leinster Hurling Championship opener with Antrim on Sunday.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics