Fennelly doubtful for final

GAA: Colin Fennelly is a major doubt for Kilkenny's All-Ireland Hurling Championship final clash against Tipperary on September…

GAA:Colin Fennelly is a major doubt for Kilkenny's All-Ireland Hurling Championship final clash against Tipperary on September 4th. The Ballyhale Shamrocks forward suffered a hamstring injury in a match against Clara at the weekend and selector Martin Fogarty has admitted that he is unlikely to play.

Fogarty stated: “Right now it looks bad. It looks like he will be out. At the same time we have to wait for a few days until we get a proper diagnosis on it. We don’t like to have lads out and it is very hard on him personally if he loses out. But unfortunately that is the nature of the game. It’s hard to avoid injuries.”

The GAA has confirmed Offaly official Brian Gavin will referee the final, while Johnny Ryan of Tipperary will take charge of the minor game between Dublin and Galway.

It will be Gavin's first senior final after he oversaw the All-Ireland minor final in 2004, the All-Ireland under-21 final in 2006, three All-Ireland semi-finals and two Munster finals.