Victory comes at a cost for Kilkenny

The sight of substitute Aidan Fogarty being stretchered off near the end of Kilkenny's Allianz Hurling League win over Offaly yesterday was not the only disappointment for manager Brian Cody.

The 1-27 to 1-19 victory at Nowlan Park secured Kilkenny's place in the upcoming Division 1 final against Dublin, but there were muted celebrations after injuries to Michael Fennelly, Fogarty and John Dalton.

Midfielder Fennelly has a suspected broken bone in his hand. He was replaced by PJ Delaney at half-time, while substitute Fogarty and defender Dalton sustained serious injuries late on and were brought to hospital.

Fogarty had come on to replace Richie Hogan, whose ankle needed treatment, but he lasted just seven minutes. Word from the Kilkenny camp is that it is an Achilles injury.

The game was held up while Fogarty was taken off on a stretcher and the Cats suffered another blow just minutes later when Dalton damaged his ankle.

An update on the injuries should be known later today or tomorrow, with the trio joining what is already a considerable Kilkenny injury list.

Tommy Walsh (shoulder), JJ Delaney (hamstring) and Richie Power (hip) are all nursing knocks, along with long term knee injury victims Henry Shefflin and John Tennyson.

Power is the closest to returning. He underwent surgery on his hip in January, following the injury he picked up in last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary.

Commenting recently about how he deals with injuries, Brian Cody told the Kilkenny People: "We will keep on going and working hard. People talk about injuries, but we never put anyone on the field who is injured.

"I am never concerned about injuries on the day of a game. Sure, we would love to have everyone fit and available, but once a player is let out on the field he is not injured. He is ready to play, to perform.

"With players out, an opportunity is being given to others. Different players have done different things in different ways on different days so far.

"Before every match we look at the overall thing and pick the best team. It doesn't matter really, we are still looking at good players."

There was a welcome boost, however, for the Leinster champions yesterday with Jackie Tyrrell making a successful return from a hamstring injury, and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, who has recovered from a recent bout of tonsillitis, also lasting the full 70 minutes against Offaly.