Fennelly in fitness race for final after hamstring injury
PROMISING young Kilkenny forward Colin Fennelly limped out of Ballyhale Shamrocks' championship win over Clara yesterday afternoon with suspicions of a worrying hamstring injury.
Fennelly, who has broken onto the Cats' starting 15 this season, was taken off the field on a stretcher as his team defeated their opposition in the final group stage of the competition. Initial reports confirmed that he incurred a hamstring problem with Kilkenny sources last night admitting their concern at developments.
The Sunday Independent understands that Fennelly was dispatched to the cryotherapy chamber in Wexford for immediate treatment after fears emerged that the hamstring could be torn. Depending on the severity of the injury, this problem could rule him out for up to six weeks, especially if it's a high-level tear.
With the All-Ireland final scheduled for September 4 it would leave the hard-working Ballyhale star in a frantic race against the clock to be fit for the decider against either Tipperary or Dublin.
An All-Ireland under 21 winner in 2008, Fennelly's under-age promise was flagged for some time. He broke into Brian Cody's team this season, featuring prominently during the league and has already bagged 1-3 in this year's championship, playing the full 70 minutes against Waterford and Dublin and managing 60 minutes against Wexford.
Kilkenny's run-up to last year's final was dogged by key players like Henry Shefflin and John Tennyson recovering for the final. They will be keeping their fingers crossed that this rising star in their ranks can now recover from the problem in time for the September showdown.
- DAMIAN LAWLOR
