Breaking: Barrett unlikely to feature for Tipperary hurlers on Sunday

The Tipperary senior hurlers are likely to be without influential Holycross Ballycahill defender Cathal Barrett for Sunday's Munster championship first round against Limerick at Pairc na nGael.

Barrett was expected to be recalled to the championship starting line-up having been dropped off the panel during last years campaign for disciplinary reasons. He returned to the squad earlier this year and had been featuring at midfield in many of the league games. However, the expectation was that he would return to defensive duties for the championship - an expectation which has now been tempered following news of the re-emergence of a troublesome hamstring injury which was hampered his preparations.

Tipperary will miss Cathal Barretts dash and his experience on Sunday as he is very unlikely to play a part in the championship opener.

Barrett missed a number of the league games with the same complaint but has failed to shake off the injury completely - he tweaked it again in the closing stages of the Allianz national Hurling  league final having come on as a sub against Kilkenny. And, all the indications are that he will not be risked in the Pairc na nGael cauldron, especially with Tipperary having three further games in as many weekends after next Sunday.

The announcement of the team tomorrow evening (Friday) will generate much interest especially with a number of positions up for grabs.

Keep up to date with news from the camp right here on The Tipperary Star website.