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Skehill suffers injury scare for Galway while Kilkenny hand debut to Walsh
Updated 21.40pm
GALWAY GOALKEEPER JAMES Skehill remains in contention to feature in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final replay despite dislocating his shoulder during a light training session earlier this evening.
Skehill suffered the injury while diving to stop a shot during a squad puck around this evening. The Cappataggle net minder was subsequently transferred to hospital where RTÉ have reported that doctors were able to put the shoulder back in place and increase his chances of featuring in Sunday’s showdown.
Skehill has previously suffered shoulder injuries, dislocating his right shoulder against Dublin in a challenge match in 2009 and earlier this year he dislocated his left shoulder in a league game against Waterford.
If Skehill was to be absent, it would likely pave the way for Padraig Pearses goalkeeper Fergal Flannery to get the nod between the posts. The substitute netminder tasted senior championship experience earlier this summer when deputising for the injured Skehill in the Leinster championship opener against Westmeath. Flannery won an All-Ireland minor medal with Galway in 2009, after losing the decider in that competition in 2008.
Meanwhile Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has made dramatic changes to his attack for Sunday’s match with Walter Walsh having been handed his starting senior debut at full-forward while Cillian Buckley comes into the side at right half-forward. The alterations mark a major shake-up as Aidan Fogarty and Colin Fennelly are the players to make way.
Kilkenny’s Walter Walsh. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Walsh’s inclusion is the biggest surprise. A tall strong attacker, he was promoted to the senior panel the year after a series of strong performances at underage level. He started at centre-forward on the Kilkenny minor team that won the 2008 All-Ireland minor title and the following spring featured for his club Tullogher-Rosbercon in the All-Ireland JHC final when they were defeated by Cork outfit Dripsey.
Walsh was a strong figure on the Kilkenny U21 team that reached the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland final against Clare earlier this month. He registered 2-7 from play during their campaign this year including a brace of points in the meeting with the Banner.
Buckley returns to the starting line-up having lost out in the wake of the Leinster final loss to Galway in July. He came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Limerick and the semi-final success against Tipperary but did not feature in the drawn decider with Galway.
Here is the Galway team and subs for Sunday’s game.
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All-Ireland SHC Galway hurling Injury james skehill Kilkenny hurling Team news Walter Walsh