Reigning Hurler of the Year Shane O'Donnell is hoping that he could yet feature for Clare in the 2025 championship.
Just a few weeks ago O’Donnell appeared to be ruled out by the Clare camp for the season with a shoulder injury sustained in last year’s All-Ireland decider with Cork.
But after undergoing surgery in February, he is now able to resume gym work and is hopeful of playing some part in the season if his county are still in contention.
News of his possible availability is a considerable lift for the Banner County after they were relegated from Division 1 and looked set to be without their electrifying attacker for the season.
But, speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Donnell said the outlook was brighter than he had anticipated, and he could be available for at least the All-Ireland series, assuming the reigning champions progress from Munster.
"There's a chance of me still playing," he said.
"I honestly don't know when that date is coming. In the next couple of weeks I'll get a better idea of when I'll be able to get back or maybe potentially be in contention for a latter part of the championship.
Clare's Hurler of the Year Shane O'Donnell says he could "potentially be in contention for a latter part of the championship" as he recovers from shoulder surgery but will have a clearer timetable for a return in the next couple of weeks. #GAA #Hurling pic.twitter.com/bjtSskCLvU
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) April 15, 2025
"But I won't be surfacing in the Cork game or the Waterford game.
"It's all still very uncertain but the surgery went well and I’ve been doing some great work with the physios so I’ll know more soon.
"In the next week or two, I'll have a better idea of where that will land."
The three-time All Star said he could have received an injection into the problematic shoulder, but felt he had little choice except to undergo surgery.
He is now hoping that his recovery continues in a positive fashion and suggested that he could be back to help his county in four to eight weeks.
The Banner host Cork this Sunday in Ennis in their Munster Hurling Championship opener before a trip to Waterford on 27 April.
They are at home again against Tipperary on 10 May and conclude the round-robin at the Gaelic Grounds on 25 May.
The Munster final is on Saturday 7 June and the All-Ireland quarter-finals are two weeks after that.
Watch Clare v Cork in the Munster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
