Canning and Gillane injuries cast shadow over Limerick’s triumph
AARON GILLANE and Joe Canning were both detained in hospital overnight after yesterday’s gripping All-Ireland semi-final between Limerick and Galway.
Munster champions Limerick are waiting for news on Gillane’s shoulder injury and whether it will affect his chance of playing in Sunday week’s final against Waterford, after they saw off Shane O’Neill’s men by 0-27 to 0-24.
There was even more concern in the Galway camp, though, for Canning who had to be stretchered off the field after an eight-minute delay with concussion following an accidental collision with teammate, Joseph Cooney.
Limerick manager John Kiely was a relieved man as his charges came out just the right side of a three-point victory against opponents who refused to die despite game-ending injuries to both Canning and Cathal Mannion.
“Yeah, a fair battle, but at least we got out the right side of it,” said Kiely.
“It was a tough battle, a really tough battle, very physical. We might not have got off to a very fluent start.
“We still created a few chances alright, but just a few handling errors and bits and pieces, we were just a bit nervy maybe.
“Once we settled into it then midway through the first half, we got into a good rhythm and clawed back that lead Galway had and it was nip and tuck then for long periods of the game.
“Very satisfied with the performance, because when things are coming as easily as you might like, sometimes that can be a day that you back off it and just accept that maybe its not happening for you today and you are finding it difficult.
“But the boys just embraced that challenge and embraced the difficulty and tried to figure out the solutions to the problems and just kept fighting and fighting and fighting.
“The boys coming off the bench then made a huge impact in the last 20 minutes.”