Tipperary’s Brendan Maher has confirmed that the ankle injury he sustained last week is not as bad as initially feared.
Maher, 22, fractured his fibula while pucking a ball around in his back yard last Friday, but he received some positive news from doctors on Wednesday, who indicated that he will be able to start rehabilitation work in just six weeks’ time.
The Young Hurler of the Year will still miss the Munster GAA Championship opener against Cork on May 29, but he expects to be back for the remainder of Tipperary’s Championship campaign.
The early indications are that he could return to action within 10 weeks, which is far more positive than an initial prognosis of up to 14 weeks on the sidelines.
After having an x-ray in Nenagh hospital on Monday morning, Maher was referred to Dr. Gerry McCoy in Waterford, who advised that the bone would heal naturally and surgery was not necessary.
“It’s not as bad as what was feared, just a fracture on my fibula," he told the Irish Examiner.
"I’ll be in a cast for six weeks, rehab from there, then hoping to be back in training by the Cork championship game on May 29. I won’t make the game, but I hope to be back in contention in 10 to 12 weeks.”
