Schutte blow for Dublin

Cuala captain Paul Schutte is likely to miss all of Dublin's Senior Hurling Championship campaign with a hamstring injury.

Schutte skippered Cuala to their second successive All-Ireland club title on Saturday but only lasted 28 minutes of the 2-17 to 1-17 final replay win over Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh at O'Moore Park before suffering a second serious injury in four months.

The 29-year-old defender tore his hamstring off the bone in Cuala's Leinster final victory over Kilcormac/Killoughey on 3 December, but returned for the St Patrick's Day All-Ireland club final against Na Piarsaigh at Croke Park.

However, he suffered a repeat of the injury in Saturday's All-Ireland final replay and now expects to be sidelined again for between four and six months.

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"I knew I was very lucky to play," he told the 42.ie.

"I tore my hamstring off the bone in the Leinster final. I didn't train at all, I did about 10 minutes of the warm-up before the match, that was the sum total. I didn't get to train or anything.

"I thought I'd be lucky to get 10 minutes in the first game and to come through that I was delighted. I suppose it was a bit too much, the back-to-back weeks for me."

Schutte declined to play for Dublin last year under then-manager Ger Cunningham but was considering making himself available for the Sky Blues again under new boss Pat Gilroy.

Dublin begin their Leinster Championship campaign at home to Kilkenny on May 12, before taking on Wexford on 20 May, Offaly on 3 June and All-Ireland champions Galway on 9 June.

Image: Inpho/ Oisin Keniry

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