Tipperary defender Paddy Stapleton will miss Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final against Kilkenny, with confirmation last night he had broken a bone in his hand on duty with his club, Borris-Ileigh, over the weekend.

Stapleton should recover for Tipp’s Munster hurling semi-final against Limerick on June 9th, while there was better news for fellow defender Pádraic Maher, who will be fit for Sunday having recovered from an arm injury.

Donegal's footballer-of-the-year Karl Lacey has also made his return to full training, and is in line to start against Tyrone in Ballybofey on May 26th: Lacey has not played a competitive game in six months.

Anthony Price (back) and Philip Gilsenan (knee) have been ruled out of Westmeath’s Leinster Hurling Championship opener with Antrim on Sunday.