Portumna stars set for Galway return

THE all-conquering Portumna hurlers could be back in action for Galway as early as next Sunday when John McIntyre’s men take on Limerick badly in need of league points.

The return of the likes of Damien Hayes, Ollie and Joe Canning will add badly needed impetus to a Galway side, who have only won one of their three league games to date.

With the Galway squad members only returning from duty with Connacht in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, and a number of injury concerns, McIntyre and his selectors will wait until Friday night before naming the side for Sunday’s game at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

He will talk to the Portumna players during the week following their third All-Ireland club success in four years at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

“We will see what the position is later in the week and take it from there,” said McIntyre.

The Galway manager could be without full back Kieran O’Donovan and Shane Kavanagh however, both on the injured list at the moment.

O’Donovan sustained a knee injury during the course of the Railway Cup final while Kavanagh missed that game because of hamstring trouble.

The Limerick team is due to be revealed tonight but manager Justin McCarthy has no injury problems to contend with.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is battling a personnel crisis ahead of Sunday’s clash with Allianz NHL champions Tipperary at Nowlan Park.

The latest injury blow to affect the Cats is the news the luckless PJ Delaney has been ruled out for the remainder of the league campaign with ankle ligament damage sustained against Galway, a problem which will keep him out for six weeks.

James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Eoin Reid and Donncha Cody have been ruled out while Derek Lyng and Noel Hickey are long-term absentees. In addition, JJ Delaney, John Dalton and 2008 hurler of the year Eoin Larkin are also considered doubtful.

The trio did not train on Tuesday and there are concerns over Delaney after he picked up a leg injury on the All Stars trip to Abu Dhabi.

Dalton is suffering with ‘flu, while Larkin is monitoring a groin problem but has a fighting chance of being ready in time for the visit of the Premier County.

On a brighter note Sunday’s game is expected to mark the return of Henry Shefflin and Kilkenny selector Martin Fogarty is looking forward to the challenge the champions present.

He said: “Tipp are league champions and a threat, but there are six or eight teams on any given day who can beat each other.” Meanwhile Tipp manager Liam Sheedy has injury problems of his own to contend with. Eoin Kelly and Hugh Moloney are still out of action. Both Willie Ryan and Darragh Egan have fractured fingers, while Lar Corbett is carrying a hamstring injury.

Centre-forward Tony Carmody is a definite non-starter for Clare, who play host to Cork at Cusack Park on Sunday. Carmody missed the last outing against Tipperary because of a leg injury which has still not fully mended.

Speculation is rife, however, that last season’s captain Brian O’Connell will get a starting place. The Clare midfielder returned from Australia a few weeks ago and was introduced as a sub during the Tipperary game.

The Cork team is due to be announced tonight. Tony Browne has returned to the training ground with Waterford but is not expected to gain a starting place for Sunday’s clash with Dublin at Parnell Park. Davy Fitzgerald will have to plan without full-back Declan Prendergast, who is ruled out of the game because of suspension.