Alarm bells drowned out Fennelly’s desire to carry on

Michael Fennelly never let on to his pal in Belfast, but when he stayed the night there recently he secretly slept on the floor.

Chronic back trouble that played havoc with his Kilkenny hurling career makes overnight stays away from home particularly troublesome. If the bed isn’t as stiff as a board, his glutes and back will ache for days.

“It was an expensive bed, I’d say, but very soft,” said Fennelly. “I ended up on the floor and, after an hour, realised I wasn’t comfortable there either, so got back up again. I’d say I didn’t get to sleep until about five o’clock.