Blow for Galway as Burke a major injury concern ahead of All-Ireland quarter-final

Fintan Burke of Galway in action against Mossy Keoghan of Kilkenny. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Fintan Burke is a major injury concern for Galway ahead of their All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Tipperary on Saturday.

Burke is not expected to feature in TUS Gaelic Grounds after it was found his knee injury is worse than was originally feared.

The St Thomas’s man hurt his knee minutes prior to the Leinster final and was replaced in the closing stages of the first half of the defeat to Kilkenny. He had damaged it prior to the Round 1 game against The Cats in April.

Speaking about the injury last week, 27-year-old Burke played down its significance. 

“I got a small niggle in my knee. I have it, probably have it a few weeks now, and I just kind of hurt it in the warm-up.

“I thought I might run it off, but obviously when you're on a player of the likes of TJ [Reid] and Mossy Keoghan inside, it's hard enough to mark them when you're fully fit. So look I said it was time to go before any more damage was done.” 

In 2019, Burke tore his cruciate in the All-Ireland senior club final defeat to Ballyhale Shamrocks. If he is unable to play, Darren Morrissey will be expected to replace him, having come on for him in Croke Park earlier this month.