Tipperary's Craig Morgan set for long spell on sidelines

The Tipperary hurlers have suffered another blow with confirmation that defender Craig Morgan has suffered a cruciate ligament injury.

Morgan injured his knee playing for Kilruane McDonagh's in the county club championship last weekend and will likely be out until the latter stages of next year's All-Ireland SHC.

The 2019 U20 All-Ireland winning captain made his senior championship debut this year, starting every game in the Munster round-robin at corner-back.

Tipp lost all four games in the wake of the injury-enforced retirement of Padraic Maher and season-ending injuries to players like Seamus Callanan, John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer and Willie Connors. John McGrath ruptured his Achilles tendon midway through the campaign.

Morgan's fellow championship debutant and former underage team-mate Dillon Quirke died tragically after collapsing during a club match earlier this month.

Former Tipp U20 and Waterford senior boss Liam Cahill has returned to replace Colm Bonnar in the Premier hot seat for next season.