Canning battling for fitness

JOE CANNING is in a race against time to be fit for Portumna’s All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final against Loughmore Castleiney on Sunday.

The Limerick Institute of Technology star is receiving intensive treatment on a badly-torn hamstring sustained in last weeks Fitzgibbon Cup draw with rivals University of Limerick.

He spent much of yesterday in Dublin seeing a specialist.

The Galway man has ruled himself out of tomorrow’s quarter-final against UCD — and isn’t optimistic about the weekend clash in Limerick.

Said the former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star: “There was no chance of me playing on Wednesday and right now it’s looking very doubtful if I will be able to line out on Sunday.”

He continued: “I knew the moment the hamstring went that it was a bad tear.

“It would be tragic if I were to miss out on the concluding stages of the Club championship.

“That is what it’s all about, playing with your club at that level.

“It doesn’t get any better.

“Right now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the treatment works, and I’ll be able to play”.