Injuries and summer sojourns to US hitting clubs hard

STEPHEN GLENNON

AS the Galway senior hurling championship progresses, injuries and the exodus of young hurlers for the Summer months to the United States have certainly been taking its toll on clubs, with even the top guns of reigning champions St. Thomas’ and challengers Portumna among those seriously affected.

Indeed, only a couple of clubs have reported a clean bill of health for this weekend and, while in other years team managements have tended to overplay their injury concerns, it would appear 2013 has been acutely unforgiving in this regard.

Added to this, more and more young hurlers – some of whom held prominent positions on their club teams – have opted to take a Summer sabbatical across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving their home sides with considerable vacuums to fill.

In any event, most clubs seem to be dealing with the same issues across the board at present and it will be those with the greater indepth strength in their squad – and who willingly embrace the challenge set out this weekend – that will prevail.

FRIDAY

St. Thomas’ v Killimordaly

(Kenny Park, Athenry 7:30pm)

St. Thomas’ have been plagued with injuries of late. Sean Skehill is the latest casualty after suffering a glut injury in the warm-up of Galway’s game against Laois last Sunday. Manager John Burke says its ‘touch and go’ if he will play.

Definitely out is livewire forward Bernard Burke (fractured elbow) and, of course, long term injury concern Kenneth Burke while others who have been on the treatment table – such as Donal and Shane Cooney – have yet to return to full fitness.

As for Killimordaly, who earned a merited draw against Clarinbridge in the opening round of the group stages, they have three injury worries. Conor McDonagh and Eanna Ryan (both hamstring) and Tommy Madden (ankle) are all in a race to be fit but trainer Mike Kelly was hopeful. Verdict: St. Thomas’.

Last meeting: 2007 (Relegation) St. Thomas 1-17,  Killimordaly 1-12 (Killimordaly relegated)

Match odds: St. Thomas’ 1/16, draw 14/1, Killimordaly 15/2. Read more in this week’s Connacht Tribune.