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.

“It was something that I needed to get done,” he said. “Anyone who knows me is well aware of the problems I had all year. It was constant painkillers and physio to even get out on the pitch.

“Hopefully this will set me right. It is very sore now and I’ll be on the crutches for a while.

“For all the games: Offaly, Kilkenny and Tipp, I gave plenty of money to physiotherapists around the place to just get out playing.

“My right knee was causing a lot of trouble. There was even a cyst developing on the kneecap with the abuse it was getting,” said the 28-year old.

Hayes hopes to be back in action next February or March — Galway will open their national league campaign at home to Wexford on February 13 — but he knows he has a lot of work to do to recover fitness.

“2010 was a good year for me on a personal level but next year hopefully Galway can take that extra step. Hopefully I’ll be fit enough to line out with them and to play my part.”

Meanwhile former Galway hurler Anthony Cunningham has been re-elected manager of his county’s U21 side for the next two seasons. Cunningham, a former All-Ireland winning minor and U21 captain, beat off the twin challenge of Portumna pair Johnny Kelly and Jimmy Heverin to take the post.