Worry for Kilkenny as Carey awaits news on his injury

D.J. CAREY is an injury worry for Kilkenny ahead of Sunday week’s Guinness All-Ireland SHC final against Cork in Croke Park.

Carey, Kilkenny’s star hurler over the past decade, suffered a hamstring injury during training on Tuesday night. However, early reports indicate it is not serious.

“We just don’t know the extent of the injury,” manager Brian Cody commented yesterday.

“We should have a better idea in another day or two. But, there’s no drama in what happened.

“He came off the training field as a precaution. I spoke to him today and he told me he felt a bit better. There’s no big worry,” said Cody.

“He had been training away as normal. D.J. wasn’t present at the team’s press night last Friday but he had a prior commitment.”

It would be a severe blow to Kilkenny’s chances of retaining their title were he to miss the game. In the current campaign he has operated quite successfully in the half-forward line and has given great leadership, especially in the quarter-final replay against Clare in Thurles when Henry Shefflin went off injured.

His predicament will have the effect of further fuelling speculation about a possible return to the attack by Tommy Walsh, who has played all his hurling in defence this season.

If this move is forced on the management, the belief is that Sean Dowling would be the player chosen to fill the vacancy in the half-back line.