Richie Hogan of Kilkenny looks certain not to play any further part in the remainder of the National Hurling League after suffering a collapsed lung in the win over Galway on Sunday.
The Cats forward will be out of action for at least a month, according to county board secretary Ned Quinn, meaning he is sure to miss the semi-final against either Clare or Limerick on April 22nd. The final on May 6th, should Kilkenny make it, also looks too soon for Hogan.
He sustained the injury at Nowlan Park in a collision with Galway goalkeeper Jamie Ryan, and was clearly in considerable pain when stretchered from the field late on in the 3-26 to 0-10 win over the Tribesmen.
Immediately after the game, manager Brian Cody thought it was a rib injury and expressed his hope Hogan would make a speedy recovery.
“Richie is a very, very important player and we'll certainly be hoping that he'll be fine,” he said. "At the stage the game was at, a lot of players wouldn't have even bothered to go and contest that ball. But Richie is playing really strong hurling at the moment. He's hungry for the ball and he went for it, and unfortunately he's picked up a serious injury."