GALWAY HURLING:ALL STAR HURLER Damien Hayes may miss the start of Galway's national league campaign next February after having cartilage surgery on both knees.

The Portumna player, who was also on the GPA team of the year, said he required painkillers throughout most of the season just to play in games.

Portumna’s defeat last month in the Galway hurling semi-final – having reached the All-Ireland club final three years in a row – prompted Hayes to avail of the idle winter to get the necessary work carried out on his knees.

“It was something I needed to get done. Anyone who knows me is well aware of the problems I had all year. It was constant painkillers and physio to even get out on the pitch so, hopefully, this will set me right. It is very sore now and I’ll be on the crutches for a while.

“For all the games: Offaly, Kilkenny and Tipp, I gave plenty of money to physiotherapists around the place to just get out playing.

“My right knee was causing a lot of trouble. There was even a cyst developing on the kneecap with the abuse it was getting.”