Sport

Larkin and Walsh join long list of injured

GAELIC GAMES NEWS: GAVIN CUMMISKEY reports on the worst collection of walking wounded in Brian Cody's 13-year reign

Wed Apr 27 2011 - 01:00

GAELIC GAMES NEWS: GAVIN CUMMISKEYreports on the worst collection of walking wounded in Brian Cody's 13-year reign

LAST WEEKEND’S Kilkenny club fixture between Tullaroan and James Stephens appears to have denied Brian Cody access to two former hurlers of the year, Eoin Larkin and Tommy Walsh, for Sunday’s National Hurling League final against Dublin at Croke Park.

Walsh was on the road to recovery from a shoulder injury but the eight-time All Star appears to have suffered a relapse after shipping some heavy blows in Tullaroan’s comprehensive 0-11 to 2-22 defeat, while Larkin was forced off in the same game with a dead leg.

Walsh first damaged the shoulder in the defeat of Waterford on March 27th and Cody had initially ruled him out for the remainder of the league campaign.

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Both Walsh and Larkin join a strikingly long list of injuries, including Henry Shefflin, Aidan Fogarty and Michael Fennelly, which severely weakens Cody’s hand ahead of Kilkenny’s seventh league final in 10 years.

Shefflin continues to rehabilitate the cruciate ligament damage he exacerbated in last September’s All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary, Fogarty has a broken ankle and Fennelly a fractured bone in his hand.

JJ Delaney appears to have recuperated from a pulled hamstring and will return to the defence. There is a chance of both John Dalton (bruised ankle) and Colin Fennelly (hamstring) being available but neither are fully fit. Richie Power also fits into this category having lined out for Carrickshock in their 0-14 to 0-15 defeat to O’Loughlin Gaels last Sunday but his match sharpness remains some way off intercounty standard, meaning he is likely to be used as a substitute.

This appears to be the worst collection of wounded Kilkenny hurlers leading into the championship during Cody’s 13-year managerial reign, yet they remain 1 to 2 favourites, with a handicap of minus three points at 11 to 10, to overcome a Dublin side that is contesting their first league final in 65 years. The Kilkenny team will be announced, as usual, on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Clare have concerns over three hurlers – James McInerney, Gerry Quinn and Conor McGrath – ahead of the National League Division Two final against Limerick in Ennis on Saturday night.

McInerney is doubtful due to a hamstring strain, whilst both Quinn and McGrath picked up knocks playing in club games over the weekend.

In contrast Limerick, comprehensive victors when the sides met back in February winning 2-9 to 0-6, yesterday announced a clean bill of health. Donal O’Grady will announce his team tomorrow night.

“The summer-like conditions should suit us much better than the situation which prevailed the last day,” said Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin. “We have three or four lads who are playing in their first year, and we have a lot of guys who are only in their second year with us.

“It’s a boost to us that the match is in Cusack Park, but at the same time Limerick won’t be too frightened about coming to Ennis.

“Our form in the league has been a bit up and down, but hopefully we’ll get our act together on Saturday. Obviously it’s a vital game for both teams, but I think it’s more important for Clare to get back in Division One next year because Limerick have spent just one year in Division Two.”