Limerick selector Donal O’Grady says that Aaron Gillane is 50-50 to play in the All-Ireland SHC final against Waterford.
BY SHANE STAPLETON
Limerick selector Donal O’Grady says that Aaron Gillane is 50-50 to play in the All-Ireland SHC final against Waterford.
The Patrickswell man spent Sunday night in hospital in Dublin for observation following a heavy collision with Galway’s Gearoid McInerney in the semi-final.
Gillane hit 0-06 (0-5 frees) in the game and had soldiered on after taking a blow that left him with bruising, before being withdrawn during injury time.
The Patrickswell man didn’t train on Tuesday night, and will be assessed again by the medical team on Friday night.
The All Star had one of his fingers heavily bandaged in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Galway, with O’Grady revealing the forwards has also been playing with damaged ligaments on one of his digits.
O’Grady explained: “Aaron didn’t train on Tuesday, obviously he took a heavy hit there at the weekend.
“We are hoping to possibly get him re-assessed on Friday night, to see how he is. At the moment, 50-50 is my understanding as of today.
“He took a heavy hit, I think he had some breathing difficulties after, and our doctor deemed it necessary for him to head to the Mater.
“They kept him overnight, it was a precaution, but they were slightly concerned about him.
“He was released the following day which was great and he came in to see us on Tuesday night, he obviously didn’t train. Hopefully we will know more through the weekend.
“He did, he went for an operation, it was actually not as bad as first feared,” O’Grady adds of Gillane’s finger injury.
“It was a ligament injury as far as I know. He possibly should have taken a couple of weeks to leave that recover.
“He really wanted to get his fitness and hurling back as quickly as possible.
“He basically played through the pain barrier, he is playing with that slight finger strapped. No tougher man than himself.
“He is (a tough player), he had a hamstring injury that you can’t escape from earlier on in the season.
“I think he made a miraculous recovery from it, he takes a lot of punishment inside on the edge of the square. He is well able to mind himself too.”
David Dempsey missed the semi-final with an injury, and may yet be available for the final.
