Hayes out until new year

ALL STAR hurler Damien Hayes may miss the start of Galway’s NHL campaign next February after undergoing cartilage surgeries on both knees.

The Portumna star, who was also on the GPA team of the year, said he required painkillers throughout most of the season to play.

Portumna’s defeat last month in the Galway SHC semi-final — having reached the All-Ireland club final three years in a row — prompted Hayes to have the operations.