The National Hurling League is up and running but some players are yet to make an appearance.
It’s been an entertaining start so far with a number of new, exciting players putting their hands up for various counties.
Anthony Burns and Declan McLoughlin both took their chances for Galway with Limerick’s young brigade led by Patrick O’Donovan showing up well.
Darragh McCarthy has been prominent for Tipperary with Aidan Tallis deputising in place of Eoin Murphy for Kilkenny.
Last year’s All-Ireland winning under-20 Donal Shirley has fared well at centre back for Offaly in Division 1B as Padraig Power impressed for Cork before injury struck.
Adam Screeney (Offaly)
An ongoing groin injury has sidelined the Offaly star so far, though he may return by the end of their League campaign.
Offaly have fared well in his absence, going unbeaten through their first three games though their meeting with Dublin in Croke Park this Saturday will be an acid test.
Last year’s U20 hero Screeney maintained his blistering form for Kilcormac Killoughey in this year’s club campaign and will be a big boost for Offaly when he returns.
Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
Gleeson took last year out but returned to the Waterford panel in time for this year’s League. Injury struck with what were described by Peter Queally as ‘a few setbacks’ keeping him out of action so far.
Waterford will welcome his return with open arms after a disappointing start where they surprisingly lost to Carlow in Round Two.
Lee Chin, Conor McDonald & Liam Ryan (Wexford)
All three have been big losses with Keith Rossiter’s side losing each of their opening league games in his absence. Chin is expected to return to the fray in the coming weeks, having spent some time in Australia during the off-season.
Ryan has been hampered by persistent injuries over the last year, in what has been a huge blow for Wexford. They are eagerly anticipating his comeback as is the case with full forward McDonald.
Tom Morrissey & Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)
Like Chin, Morrissey went on his travels during the winter months, taking in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. He’s back in Limerick training but is yet to feature, with John Kiely’s side taking on Kilkenny in Nowlan Park this weekend.
A hamstring injury sidelined O’Neill for the early stages of Limerick’s National League campaign though he made his return, scoring a point in the closing stages of UL’s Fitzgibbon Cup final triumph over DCU.
7 July 2024; Tom Morrissey of Limerick during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Limerick and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Adrian Mullen, Eoin Murphy & TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Kilkenny have used 28 players in their opening three League games but Adrian Mullen is among those who are yet to appear, despite having featured in their pre-season challenge games. Derek Lyng has said that some of his absent stars, like Mullen, Reid, Donnelly, Tommy Walsh and Eoin Murphy could feature in the coming weeks.
Eoin Downey (Cork)
The All-Star full back makes his first start of this year’s League against Tipperary on Saturday night, having featured for UCC in their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign in recent weeks.
Cathal Mannion (Galway)
The star forward hasn’t featured yet for Galway with Micheal Donoghue giving young players such as Anthony Burns and Declan McLoughlin their chance. Mannion suffered with hamstring injuries in 2023 and Galway will hope to have him back next weekend when they play Wexford.
John Conlon & Shane O’Donnell & Conor Cleary (Clare)
Clare have been understrength for their opening two games, with Brian Lohan opting against re-introducing a number of his All-Ireland heroes such as Conlon, Conor Cleary and the Hurler of the Year Shane O’Donnell, who doesn’t tend to play much league hurling at all.
"For me the season is too long. It would be too long for me to start hurling in December and play and train all the ways through to July at inter-county level and then continue with the club,” he explained in an interview with RTE Radio Sport.
"Physically my body would not survive that, I know that now. Also from a work perspective, it’s not compatible.”
Donal Burke (Dublin)
The Na Fianna players were given a rest by their manager Niall Ó Ceallachain for their opening two games, though the likes of Burke and the Curries may return this Saturday when they host Offaly in Croke Park.
