WE'LL HANNDLE THIS

Limerick skipper Declan insists a strong Treaty squad will cope well with his absence to injury

- PAT NOLAN

LIMERICK will enter their All-Ireland semi-final next month as favourites but the absence of their talisman will bring some level of vulnerability.

It's an extremely rare occurrence, after all, that they are led out by anyone other than Declan Hannon.

He remains "hopeful" that a knee injury suffered during the recent Munster final win over Clare will have cleared up in time for an All-Ireland final should Limerick move within 70 minutes of the four-in-a-row.

"There's not really a timeline," he said yesterday. "I got a bit of a nick on my knee so it just depends on how it recovers now in the next few weeks. I'm just taking it day-by-day now, trying to get the rehab going and trying to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

"A small bang, it was. It will just take a bit of time. I suppose the semi-final will just come a bit too soon."