Tipperary wing back Barry Heffernan will miss out on making his Munster senior hurling championship debut against Cork on Sunday due to repeated concussion.

The Nenagh Eire Og clubman has suffered three head traumas since last December and, as a result, the 20-year-old has had to remain side-lined until further notice.

"Barry Heffernan stepped down for a while because he got a second knock to the head and is going through concussion protocols," Tipp selector Declan Fanning told The Irish Times.

"He had one against Cork and then a second one with his club a few weeks later so he stepped down for a while."

Commenting on the issue of concussion in Gaelic games, Fanning added: "It's something that's creeping into the GAA. Lads are getting fitter and stronger and the game is played so fast. It's something you would have only associated with rugby, but I'm seeing a lot more of it now in the last two years in hurling."

Meanwhile, dual star Seamus Kennedy is expected to fill the vacant role on the team at right half-back for the opening round of Tipp's Munster SHC defence against the Rebels in Thurles.

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