Leinster Lightning have been hit in recent days by injury blows to Barry McCarthy and Andrew Poynter.

25 year old Poynter, who has played 44 times for the Ireland senior international side, suffered a serious head injury while playing hockey on Monday.

The Clontarf all-rounder suffered a depressed skull fracture which required eight stitches. Poynter will be advised if an operation is needed to treat the injury later this week.

If surgery is required, it could mean a lengthy absence from both domestic and representative action.

Another Leinster player in the wars is Ireland Under 19 player Barry McCarthy. He's had surgery on a troublesome long-standing ankle injury.

The Pembroke all-rounder explained: "I had a posterior impingment, which means basically whenever my landing foot hit the deck a piece of bone got caught in between the joint. I opted to get it removed I could have got another injection like I did last summer but that obviously wouldn't fix the problem for good. I felt it would be good to put the problem to bed for good.          

"I've been ordered to have complete rest and do absolutely nothing for two weeks. I'm hoping to be back to full bowling and playing in about 6-7 weeks."

Hopefully bith players will make full recoveries from their injuries in time for the opening game in the newly re-launched Inter-Provincial Series. The first games are scheduled for Sunday April 29th in the Twenty20 format, with the Leinster venue still to be confirmed.