Skehill injury proving costly

Galway goalkeeper James Skehill revealed yesterday he missed out on six weeks’ pay as a result of the shoulder injuries which ruined his ambitions in the All-Ireland hurlingfinal replay.

The Cappataggle clubman is a civil engineer and praised the Galway County Board for their assistanceafter injuring his left shoulder last March and again in Septemberbut, while costs are covered, he is unsure where he stands beyond that.

“I’m off work and I’m not scheduled to return until November. As an amateur sportsman, that’s three weeks without pay, which is tough,” said Skehill who has not contacted the GPA for advice.

“The first time I did it back in March, again it was weeks without pay and when I did the right shoulder I was a college student, which put me back in my studies. But as an amateur sportsman, you have toaccept these things.”

Skehill also revealed that the injury, which he suffered for a second time during Galway’s last training sessions prior to the second September showdown with Kilkenny, was far more serious than originally thought.

Surgeon Ger Maloney performed a four-hour operation on the damaged joint in Waterford last week and informed the player afterwards that there was damage to bone, capsule, ligaments, tendon and muscle.

Skehill is targeting a return to action for St Patrick’s Day 2013.