Hurlers rocked by injury to team captain

Date Published: 15-Dec-2010

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY full-back Shane Kavanagh, who is set to miss the Tribesmen’s National Hurling League campaign – and possibly, the 2011 championship – through injury, has admitted the rigours and demands of the modern game are taking its toll on players.

Kavanagh, who captained the Tribesmen to the National League title earlier this year, will receive surgery on a long standing ankle injury in the Bons Secours this Friday and faces up to six months of rehabilitation.Kavanagh joins a growing list of casualties within the Galway set-up this year.

Defenders Fergal Moore and Ciaran O’Donovan have both had to deal with serious injuries over the past 12 months, while Kevin Hynes (calves) Damien Hayes (knees) and Aidan Harte (hip) have also undergone surgery in the last number of weeks. Kavanagh admitted such were the demands of the modern game.

“It seems to be, because even in the squad at the moment, Damien Hayes is after getting his knees done, Fergal Moore got his ankle done last year, and Aidan Harte is after getting surgery on his hip. If you had one, you would say you were unlucky. Two, you would wonder what is going wrong.

But we have had four, off the top of my head, in the last 12 months. And that’s not including Kevin Hynes (Compartmental Syndrome)!“Physically, there is a lot more pressure on players. Fellows will always push themselves and I suppose, then, the body compensates.

Hopefully, it is not something that is creeping into the game.”Not surprisingly, Kavanagh, one of Galway’s most consistent contributors in 2010, is devastated to be missing the opportunity to defend the National League crown.

“It is a bad blow alright, but we just looked at it whatever which way we could, and the more we looked at it, it just made sense to go and get the surgery,” said the Kinvara man.“

The timing is not ideal, but it could be a lot worse. I am going in on Friday and, hopefully, when the surgeon gets in he won’t find anything else wrong. Hopefully, he will get it cleared up and I will be on the mend as soon as possible.”