Kennedy a Tipp doubt as Lohan looks to shuffle Banner deck

LIAM SHEEDY may be forced to plan without Séamus Kennedy for Tipperary’s Munster SHC semi-final with the defender forced to the sidelines after picking up a knee injury.

Kennedy (inset) is understood to have sustained a medial knee ligament strain in training earlier this month and the Premier’s clash with Clare/ Limerick on Sunday week may come too soon for the St Mary’s clubman.

The Tipp boss will know who the All-Ireland champions face after the Shannonside derby this Sunday, where Clare manager Brian Lohan looks set to start a new-look side.

Captain John Conlon has been ruled out for the remainder of 2020 having undergone surgery for a cruciate knee ligament injury in March, while fellow All-Stars Podge Collins (playing football), Peter Duggan (travelling) and Colm Galvin (injury) are also unavailable.

Fresh faces like goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan and corner-back Liam Corry are in contention, with Aaron Cunningham and Aron Shanagher set to benefit in attack.

Meanwhile, a near 1,000km round trip to Kerry this weekend is not top priority for Declan Bonner, with the Donegal football boss having more than one eye on their Ulster SFC quarter-final clash with Tyrone the following week.

The Ulster champions have an outside chance of claiming Division 1 league honours should they beat the Kingdom – Dublin and Galway also need to draw – and Bonner won’t be taking risks ahead of the Red Hand clash.

Star forward Paddy McBrearty may see some game time as he nears full fitness at just the right time, but Bonner will be without Odhran McFadden-Ferry for the remainder of 2020 as he prepares for a tour of duty with the Irish Army in Lebanon.