KILKENNY ARE FACING the prospect of losing star midfielder Michael Fennelly for the entire Leinster Championship as the extent of his ankle injury becomes clearer.
The 2011 hurler of the year fractured a bone his ankle during Sunday’s win against Cork in the National Hurling League final.
Initial estimates suggested that he would miss up to six weeks, throwing his participation in the Leinster Championship semi-final on 23 June into doubt.
But a statement from the Cats county board revealed that Fennelly’s injury is “more serious than first thought” after the player met for a consultation with surgeon Tadhg O’Sullivan yesterday.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks man now faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines and would miss the Leinster final should Brian Cody’s men make it to an eighth successive provincial decider, according to a report in this morning’s Irish Independent.
Fennelly will have further medical consultation later this week before any final decision is taken on his recovery time, Kilkenny said.
He joins on a long list of injured stars racing to be fit in time for the Championship season. Henry Shefflin (shoulder), Richie Hogan (knee), Michael Rice (knee), Noel Hickey (hamstring) and Aidan Fogarty (wrist) are all recovering from injury at present.
