Major injury worries for Cats

KILKENNY boss Brian Cody was last night sweating on the fitness of centre-forward Henry Shefflin and centre-back Brian Hogan ahead of next month’s All-Ireland final after both were forced off with injuries in the first-half of yesterday’s semi-final.

Hogan was first to depart in the 15th minute after receiving a heavy blow to this shoulder. The O’Loughlin Gaels player missed a large portion of last season after dislocating his shoulder in the National League final against Tipperary and there had been uncertainty over his fitness in the run-up to yesterday’s game after he injured his finger in training.

Shefflin was withdrawn in the 23rd minute after falling awkwardly on his left knee. The incident took place in the same area of the pitch where the Ballyhale Shamrocks star tore his cruciate ligament during the 2007 All-Ireland final win over Limerick.