Declan Hannon 'hopeful' of returning if Limerick reach All-Ireland hurling final

Limerick captain Declan Hannon is not sure if he will play again this season as he battles to recover from a knee injury.

Hannon limped off in the 55th minute of the Munster final win over Clare and is expected to miss the All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin, Galway or Tipperary.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport today, the Adare man would only say that he was "hopeful" of being back if the four-in-a-row-chasing Treaty make it to a fourth successive decider.

"I just got a bit of a knock in the Munster final to the knee," he said. "I'm rehabbing that at the minute and trying to get back performing on the pitch as quickly as possible.

"I'd play on one leg if I could, but the All-Ireland semi-final will come too soon, they think.

"You'd be hopeful [of being fit for a final]. It’s just kind of day by day and see how the rehab goes.

"I couldn’t answer the question at the minute. Our full focus is on the semi-final and seeing how we get on.

"I’ll just do whatever I can to support the boys over the next few weeks. Try and have a bit of fun with them as well and knock out the tension that might be there at times."

Hannon (30) has missed only one of the 37 championship games of John Kiely's reign so far, the 2019 round-robin defeat to Tipperary when Limerick were already assured of progression.

However, the three-time All-Star winning No 6 has full faith that his team-mates, already dealing with the loss of star corner-back Sean Finn, can step up in his absence.

"That's why you have a panel of players, that’s why you train together so often," he said. "You could be thrown in at any stage of the game.

"To be honest, when I'm playing the boys do a lot of the work. I’m only in the way half the time. Whoever goes in there the next day will have no bother