CORNER FORWARD Aidan Harte is a major doubt for Galway ahead of Sunday week’s Leinster hurling semi-final against Offaly.
Harte, who made his championship debut in the 2-22 to 1-14 quarter-final win over Wexford, suffered a hip injury playing for Gort in the Galway club championship at the weekend and has been slow to respond to treatment.
Manager John McIntyre said yesterday that the young Gort attacker was doubtful and was the primary concern at the top of a lengthy injury list.
Galway will be without suspended wing forward Andy Smith, while attacker Kevin Hayes (hamstring) and defender Conor Dervan (broken thumb) are also ruled out. “We have had to bring in eight lads so that we can play a match in training,” said McIntyre ahead of last night’s session.
Midfielder Ger Farragher, centre back Tony Og Regan, corner back Damien Joyce, and forwards Damien Hayes and his brother Niall are all nursing injuries, but are expected to recover in time for the Croke Park showdown on Sunday week.
Meanwhile, a knee injury is threatening Tommy McGuigan’s participation in Tyrone’s Ulster football semi-final against Down at Casement Park on Sunday week.
However, there is good news elsewhere as former All Star defender Conor Gormley is expected to return to the side after a similar injury forced him to miss the quarter-final win over Antrim at the same venue.
Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has hit back at club managers who have voiced their anger at a county board decision to postpone half of the first round games in the domestic championship.
Four county club ties scheduled for last weekend were called off in order to give the county team more time to prepare for the semi-final on June 19th.
But the move has sparked unrest at club level, with officials unhappy at the fact that some first round games were played in May, while others could be delayed until July, should the Tyrone-Down game end in a draw.
“I think some of the unhappy club managers would need to take a little step back and try and look at the big picture,” said Harte.
