Injury woe for Healy and Canning

Injury has struck down two of Galway hurling's leading lights, with Niall Healy to miss the county's NHL Division 1B clash with Offaly this weekend and Joe Canning emerging as a doubt for Portumna's upcoming All-Ireland club semi-final against Loughmore-Castleiney.

Healy, who scored 0-3 in Galway's win over Clare last week, has been ruled out of action for three weeks due to a punctured lung.

The 23-year-old forward sustained the injury in a heavy challenge during the latter stages of last Sunday's league opener at Pearse Stadium.

Meanwhile, Galway underage star Canning is facing a race against time to be fit for Portumna's All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week.

He pulled a hamstring just 15 minutes into Limerick IT's Fitzgibbon Cup draw with the University of Limerick yesterday.

Canning admitted afterwards: "It looks like a bad tear but I'll know more in the morning after I see the specialist. Right now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is not too serious and that it will respond to treatment."