Injuries mount for hurlers ahead of trip to Cork

STEPHEN GLENNON

REIGNING National League champions Galway will put their unbeaten record on the line when they travel to face Cork in a live televised third round clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday (2:30pm). 

Although hit by a spate of injuries over the early months of the year, Galway can still be satisfied with their opening victories against Wexford and Offaly. But given just how disappointing both Leinster counties were in those games, this clash against Cork represents a big step up in class.

“No question about that,” agrees Galway manager John McIntyre. “Cork showed a lot of bottle in the game against Kilkenny in their last league outing. They fought back well after finding themselves in a difficult position at half-time and they were unlucky not to get a draw out of it.

“I also feel that after Galway putting them out of the championship in 2009, and after beating them in last year’s league final, we can expect a very determined Cork challenge on Sunday. So, yeah, this is our first real test of the league, but our players are performing well, confidence is high and the spirit is good in the camp. Regardless of the opposition, to put up a total score of 2-48 in our opening two matches is fairl going by any standards. You can’t beat winning; it’s great for self belief.”

Heading into this one, Galway have injuries worries in Tony Óg Regan (groin), Eanna Ryan (tonsillitis), and Cyril Donnellan (hamstring), while Gerard O’Halloran (Craughwell), Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty), David Burke (St. Thomas’) and Johnny Coen (Loughrea) all have U-21 club championship ties on Saturday. Futhermore, Niall Healy could be out for a month with a pulled hamstring.

“Obviously, it is not ideal to have three or four players involved in two games within 24 hours – there is also arisk of injury, never mind the fatigue,” says McIntyre. “However, we understand where the Hurling Board are coming from in the context of streamlining the U-21 championship.

“We all know the vast amount of fixtures the Board has to deal with, so something has to give along the way. It does pose difficulties for us, but nobody is going to start crying about it. We just have to accept the Board has a job to do when it comes to making fixtures and we have to get on with it.”

Of course, given the substantial injury list – which comprises of Portumna pair Damien Hayes and Joe Canning and Sarsfields duo Kevin Hynes and Joseph Cooney – Galway cannot afford any further injuries at present.

“Some people have said that our injuries will eventually catch up with us, but we will just have to wait and see,” says the Galway boss. “Joe Canning is out for a few more weeks, but we have not ruled him out of the league completely. He has a foot injury which is going to take time and we are prepared to give him that time to recover.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.