Galway captain David Collins is a major doubt for Sunday’s Leinster hurling final with Kilkenny because of a hamstring injury. Collins suffered a slight hamstring tear in training last Tuesday night, but is holding on to the slight hopes of making a return to face the Cats at Croke Park.
Manager Anthony Cunningham also has concerns over Jason Flynn who is on his way back from a broken finger, but Collins says he’ll give himself every chance of making it back in time for the Leinster final.
“It’s touch and go at the moment. I slightly tore the hamstring last Tuesday night. Look these things happen in the heat of the battle and it will be a fight for me to make to back for it.
“Whether I get back or not is another story. We’ll just have to see about it on Friday and Saturday and make the call then. I’m hoping to be okay, but these things happen.
“I just pulled up. It was a sharp shooting pain through the leg and it was: ‘alright what’s going on here’. I was fresh, I did the whole session and I had no problems, then it hit me.
“I had to pull up, I had to get it iced and seen to. The recovery period was quite good: pain for a day or two and then I was back into it. I’m just looking at trying to get back doing a bit of hurling this evening. But it could be a bit of touch and go,” Collins said.
Strong panel
Even if he is ruled out as expected, Collins is confident that the Tribesmen have the cover to fill the void. Skipper two years ago, Fergal Moore, has had to be satisfied with a spot on the bench so far, while Gearóid McInerney already has a championship start under his belt this summer.
“The only thing is there is a serious panel there. It’s the first time in ten years that I’ve been on a Galway panel that’s there’s lads chomping at the bit to get your place. We’ve got plenty of cover, especially in the back line. I have no real worries about that,” he said.
Galway could be boosted by the return of Flynn after a broken finger kept him out of the Laois win, Joe Canning is regarded as full fit now after his hand injury, while Niall Burke and Conor Cooney remain on the injured list.
“Jason Flynn comes back into hurling this week. To be honest with you we wouldn’t know until probably Saturday or Sunday. But with Jason he should be okay. You never know, he had a cracked finger,” said Cunningham. “He hasn’t struck a ball yet, the advice on these things would be to take it as you see it. The more days you can give it the better.
“We’d hope will be fine. Even fingers, they come on so much even in a week. They are fine, it’s bending well so it’s almost there. Nobody will play unless they are fully fit to be honest.”
