Fennelly facing a tough uphill battle

GAA:KILKENNY midfielder Michael Fennelly has admitted that younger brother Colin needs a miracle to be fit for the All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary on Sunday week.

Twenty-two year-old Colin, who is four years younger than Michael, had cemented a place in the Kilkenny forwards this season only to tear his hamstring playing for his club, Ballyhale Shamrocks, 11 days ago.

“He’s working away on it every day, doing as much as he can,” said the elder Fennelly.

“There was only three weeks to the final (when it happened), but he has a week’s rehab done already. He’s coming on well, but it would be a miracle really if he is playing because it will come down to the last Thursday or Friday when they will decide to start him or not.

“At that point, he mightn’t even be running at full belt. It’s tough mentally for him. When you tear a hamstring you have to be very confident you can run on it. He’ll play it day by day and fingers crossed a miracle will happen.”

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody was more upbeat.

“He is back jogging tonight doing a bit of work but he is touch and go, it is impossible to say,” said Cody on Monday night. “The time frame is short obviously. He is certainly not ruled out at this stage. We’d be hopeful.”

Fennelly’s injury is the only concern for Cody, in stark contrast to last year’s build-up when Henry Shefflin’s attempt to play on a damaged cruciate ligament lasted only 13 minutes of the All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary.

“Aw, (Henry is) one hundred per cent,” said Fennelly.

“Definitely. The work he has put in himself both on and off the field is unbelievable. Yeah, he’s no doubt.”