Cruciate recurrence for Limerick’s Galvin

Limerick midfielder John Galvin will undergo intensive gym work over the next four weeks in a last-ditch attempt to play some part in this year’s All-Ireland SFC championship.

Manager Maurice Horan has ruled him out of the Munster SFC opener against Waterford in the Gaelic Grounds on May 20 after a specialist yesterday revealed he had damaged the same left knee cruciate he damaged last year.

However, the Croom man has not yet given up hope of lining out for Limerick again this season.

“It’s severely torn but not completely torn,” said Horan. “He has to hit the gym for the next four weeks, he’ll do a programme of leg weights and then a decision will be made on whether or not he needs an operation.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out other than him not being right for the Waterford game.”

The 2010 All Star nominee picked up the recurrence in the first-half of Sunday’s Division 4 draw with Fermanagh.

Galvin, 31, injured the knee in a challenge game against Down last May and had only returned to competitive action against Kilkenny last month.

“He’s never played a championship for us in my tenure,” Horan pointed out. “He’s a huge addition to any team. The killer thing about it was he was back on song against Fermanagh. He has showed loads of hunger after missing out on the first half of the league. He was coming back right and to have such an important player, someone so crucial, who young and old looked up to, it’s a tough one to stomach for us and especially for him.

“But that’s the way it is. Hopefully, it’s not the last time we see John in a Limerick jersey.”