James McGarry could be in line for an emotional All-Ireland senior hurling final appearance after initial scans revealed that Kilkenny goalkeeper PJ Ryan has fractured his arm.

Ryan sustained the injury during last Sunday's semi-final victory over Wexford and during the second half of the game corner back Jackie Tyrrell took the puck-outs.

If further scans confirm a definite fracture, Ryan will be ruled out of the final clash against Waterford or Limerick on September 2nd. That would open the door for McGarry or Richie O'Neill to take over in goal for the big day.

Kilkenny selector Martin Fogarty said: "We're very worried about PJ. The initial medical opinion suggests that he has a fracture but that has to be confirmed by further tests and nothing is definite at this stage."

Ryan took over from four-time All-Ireland winner McGarry this season but for Kilkenny's last two championship outings O'Neill has been named as the team's official sub-goalkeeper following the tragic death of McGarry's wife Vanessa.

However, McGarry has returned to full training and will push hard for a starting place in the final if Ryan is ruled out. McGarry holds the record as being the only goalkeeper in the history of hurling to have kept three clean sheets in All-Ireland finals. These were achieved in 1999, 2002 and 2004 and his experience and know-how would be invaluable.

Despite losing his place on the team, McGarry had been pushing Ryan desperately hard in an attempt to regain his position.

O'Neill is also highly-regarded within the Kilkenny set-up and has impressed since he was called up from last year's intermediate squad.

The 25-year-old is a former Fitzgibbon Cup hurler with UCC and warmed up twice last Sunday when Ryan got injured but was not called upon as the Fenians player finished the game.

Kilkenny are also monitoring Noel Hickey after the full back tore a hamstring during the Wexford game.

Fogarty said: "He's a serious worry and this is a recurrence of a previous injury. With a basic hamstring, you're talking three weeks and we're checking out the severity of it. Any injury can look severe on first inspection but two to three days later, it can appear less so. For example, Donncha Cody had what appeared to be a niggle but it turned out to be quite a serious injury."