The All-Ireland Hurling Championship will take place without one of the star forward players in the country after Waterford’s Pauric Mahony suffered a broken shin bone playing for Ballygunner on Saturday night that could rule him out for the rest of the year.

Ballygunner, the defending county champions, were taking on Ballyduff Upper at Fraher Field when Mahony suffered the injury during the second half, with the game held up for 17 minutes as the player was treated by medical staff on the pitch.

Mahony was taken to hospital by ambulance, with Ballygunner manager Denis Walsh later confirming the injury as a shin break. Ballygunner went on to win the game by 15 points.

Mahony is expected to face at least four months on the sidelines post surgery, a huge blow to a Waterford side that claimed their third Allianz Hurling League title with victory over Cork last Sunday.

Mahony played a pivotal role in the campaign, scoring a total of 1-90 in eight games, including 11 points in the final.

Waterford face Cork again in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday June 7th.