If you believe Ger Loughnane, Kilkenny are screwed.
Back in April, Loughnane dismissed Brian Cody's side as simply being 'functional beyond belief'. He also stated that Kilkenny are 'totally dependent' on TJ Reid and Richie Hogan.
For two months, they are down to just 50% of that duo.
According to the Irish Daily Mail, Hogan is out for between eight and ten weeks with a broken hand.
Games which Hogan seems certain to miss are the Leinster semi-final against Dublin on June 11th and a possible Leinster final on July 3rd.
After that, it gets more uncertain. Should Kilkenny win Leinster, as they have done so for the past two years, they would be in an All-Ireland semi-final on August 7th. A ten-week absence would have Hogan back in action around that time.
The 27-year-old suffered the injury while playing for Danesfort at the weekend in a league game against Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Even for Kilkenny, and a squad of their depth, Hogan is a huge loss and no doubt one Brian Cody is already contemplating how he will compensate for.
Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE
