LIMERICK'S dynamic centre back Ciaran Carey is certain to miss Sunday's Munster senior hurling championship clash with Waterford because of injury.
Carey, who captained Limerick to last year's AllIreland final, visited a specialist in Dublin's Blackrock Clinic yesterday. But he knows that the prospect of his ankle injury recovering in time for Sunday's first round clash has diminished.
Tom Ryan, the Limerick manager, was yesterday prepared to plan for Sunday's match without the talented Carey. Mike Houlihan is almost certain to wear the number six jersey.
Ryan's problems do not end with the major blow Carey's injury creates, for when the team is named this evening he will not be able to call on Pat Heffernan, goalkeeper Joe Quaid, Padge Tobin or Stephen McDonagh.
Tobin has sustained a broken finger while Heffernan's hamstring injury is recovering only slowly.
The good news for Waterford manager Gerald McCarthy is that Tony Browne's four week suspension will have expired by Saturday evening. The bad news for the former Cork star, who will name his team this evening, concerns the opposite wing back position and a doubt over Brian Greene, who has a groin injury.
