Kilkenny defender Brian Hogan has been ruled out of the All-Ireland SHC final with a broken finger.
Hogan returned to training on Wednesday night after he made a speedy recovery from a shoulder problem which forced him off the field in the early stages of the semi-final win over Cork.
However, disaster struck for Hogan on Wednesday night we he played in an internal practice match and sustained the finger injury. Waterford-based surgeon Tadhg O’Sullivan confirmed it was a break and manager Brian Coady spoke of the harshness for Hogan to miss out on the final.
“He fought that (the shoulder injury) very, very hard and did everything right and then got a finger injury,†the Cats manager told the Irish Sun.
“That is very hard on any player. It is really, really very, very tough on any player to miss an All-Ireland final,†Coady added.
James Ryall is the most likely replacement for Hogan at centre-half back on Sunday week against Tipperary.
