GAA: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to selector Martin Fogarty and the vibes from the Kilkenny camp regarding injuries are not good

THE FUNCTION of the acromioclavicular joint is to allow the individual, in this case Tommy Walsh, the ability to raise his arm above his head.

The Kilkenny wing back performs this task better than most people in the country but the weekend’s injury, after a collision with fellow Cats defender Jackie Tyrrell in a club match between Tullaroan and James Stephens, may have ruled last season’s hurler of the year out of the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on September 5th. However, a statement from the Kilkenny County Board last night said that initial medical reports are hopeful that he will have recovered in time.

His absence would represent a crushing blow to Kilkenny’s quest for five successive All-Ireland titles. Were Walsh to miss out, it would mean that two of hurling’s greatest ever players, Henry Shefflin being the other, will be unavailable for their final push to be considered the greatest team ever to play the sport.

“Look, every player heals differently,” said the admittedly “hopeful” Kilkenny selector Martin Fogarty, who was unable to confirm the seriousness of the shoulder injury but a grade I or II tear of the AC ligament, while not requiring surgery, makes it highly unlikely Walsh will have healed sufficiently in three weeks.

“In hurling,” Fogarty continued, “it is very serious for obvious reasons like catching over the head. It is similar to Brian Hogan’s injury. Tommy is fighting against the clock now. We are staying positive but there is concern with only three weeks to go.”

The Kilkenny management have all but ruled out Shefflin and centre back John Tennyson due to cruciate knee damage, while Hogan (also a centre back) was withdrawn from the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Cork nine days ago with AC joint damage.

Shefflin also failed to finish that game after an anterior cruciate injury – his second time suffering from it in two years although this time it is the other knee.

“You’d have to totally rule both of them (Shefflin and Tennyson) out if the cruciate ligament is gone,” said Fogarty. “There has been a lot of talk but they are rehabbing the ligament in the hope that when it is operated on, if the ligament is not totally gone, the recovery time after surgery is significantly less if they strengthen the knee before the operation.

“It would take a miracle for either of them to make the final. Twisting, turning and jumping are not possible on a damaged cruciate knee ligament.”

That is the strongest indication yet that Shefflin will not recover, although he has been to Ger Hartmann’s sports injury clinic in Limerick for intensive treatment in the hope of a cameo appearance against Tipperary.

The walking wounded in the defending All-Ireland champions’ camp have reached crisis levels considering Michael Rice is struggling to heal from a broken hand. Rice was given game time off the bench in their emphatic dismissal of Cork but he fell on his hand, further damaging it.

PJ Delaney broke a bone in his knee last March, ensuring Kilkenny are without three natural centre backs, presuming, that is, Hogan and Tennyson do not recover.

“We are more positive about Michael Rice,” said Fogarty. “He broke a bone in the hand three or four weeks ago but fell on it against Cork, but he could make it.

“PJ Delaney was identified as someone who could come into the team, certainly a possible starter and a centre back as well but we lost him in March.”

Shefflin, Tennyson, Hogan, PJ Delaney, and now maybe Rice and Walsh – Kilkenny, for certain, have never had injury worries this bad leading into the 10 of the last 12 September finals they’ve contested.

“We are up against it, no doubt about that, especially after the performance Tipperary produced last Sunday. When it comes to hurling we don’t deal in miracles but we are remaining positive that Tommy may be alright after further scans,” added Fogarty.

Tipperary’s most pressing concern would be Eoin Kelly’s back problem but Kelly indicated after Sunday’s defeat of Waterford that he will be fine. Another worry for Liam Sheedy is that several of the senior panel, including five that started against Waterford, will be contesting an All-Ireland under-21 semi-final against Antrim on Saturday in Tullamore.