Galway hurlers get mixed injury news

Galway hurlers could be on the verge of a surprise boost in the next two weeks with Conor Cooney back doing light training following his broken foot.

However, the good news is tainted with confirmation that Niall Burke will miss Saturday’s Leinster semi-final with Laois because of a shoulder injury, and Tribes’ manager Anthony Cunningham says the Oranmore/Maree man will have to undergo further tests on the problem.

“Niall Burke, long term is probably going to need more work done on his shoulder. He has done some work with us but it’s not right yet.

“He’s not right for serious competition so I think medically he’s going to have to be looked at again,” said Cunningham.

“Dean Higgins has also had a shoulder injury and he is still about a week off getting back to contact training,” said Cunningham, who is now in his fourth year as Galway boss.

Cooney suffered a recurrence of a broken foot, which along with shin-splints, had kept the St Thomas’ forward out of Galway’s entire league campaign.

But with Cooney – who was Galway’s top scorer in last year’s championship – now on the verge of a return, Cunningham is keeping his fingers crossed that he has no further setbacks.

“Conor Cooney is back starting light running again and that’s a positive for us. You never know with those injuries. It all depends on how well the foot reacts to running is key.

“But we’d be hopeful, we’re very hopeful that in another ten days it may be possible for him to come back. He’s training, he’s gym training and he’s getting there, he’s making progress on that,” he said.