Injury blow for Kilcormac-Killoughey star as Ballinamere expect Fogarty to be okay

KILCORMAC-Killoughey's preparations for the Senior Hurling Championship final against Ballinamere on Sunday week have been dealt a major blow with the news that defensive power house Cillian Kiely is almost certainly out with a broken thumb.

Kiely sustained the injury after getting a belt with a hurl in the second half of last Sunday's run away semi-final win over Coolderry. A scan showed that it was broken and while the K-K camp are remaining tight lipped on its extent, there is speculation that he has to get surgery on it and this will rule him out.

As a general rule of thumb, if you can pardon the pun, injuries in the build up to county finals can generally be taken with a grain of salt and sometimes have a miraculous way of healing, but it looks like this is no red herring and that Kiely won't be playing against Ballinamere.

The Kilcormac man has been in the best form of his long career in the past couple of years, turning in a series of super displays for Offaly and club – he was named on the Joe McDonagh Cup team of the year this week but would be devastated to miss the county final. He has sorted out the discipline issues that caused problems in the early part of his career and has been a terrific leader for club and county.

Kilcormac-Killoughey have some of the best young talent in the county but Kiely is arguably their single most important player and his ability to dominate from centre back and make surging runs forward has been a key part of their game.

The title favourites do have the depth in strength to cope with a loss, more than any other side in Offaly, but Kiely's absence definitely increases Ballinamere's prospects of a first ever title. They will consider a few options to replace him. Brecon Kavanagh, as promising as any of the current golden generation, will probably move to the centre of defence. Speed merchant Ter Guinan could move to wing back with Jack Screeney, Alex Kavanagh or Cathal Kiely starting in attack. The other option will be to leave Guinan on the half forward line and start veteran Enda Grogan in his familiar wing back position while Jack Screeney could also fit in on the half back line.

Ballinamere also have an injury worry with their in-form centre half back Jack Fogarty. The Durrow man is due to get a scan on his knee but Ballinamere manager Niall Rigney is confident that he will be fit to play. Rigney stated that Fogarty got a dead leg and hurt his knee but should be okay to play. Defender Ronan Cleary missed their semi-final win over St Rynagh's and Rigney also expects him to be available for selection.