Galway hurling star Joe Canning is back on the injury list, after revealing that he played through the pain barrier recently during Galway's All-Ireland Under-21 semi-final loss to Kilkenny.
The 20-year-old Portumna clubman faces a race for fitness this weekend, as his club resume action in the Galway Senior Hurling Championship with a preliminary quarter-final tie against Castlegar on Sunday evening in Athenry.
'I'm injured since the Kilkenny game,' Canning admitted.
'I had an injury going into that game and it is still tagging along with me.'
Canning has had a spate of injuries already this year. He damaged his hamstring before the All-Ireland club semi-final against Loughmore-Castleiney of Tipperary in February, although he played through the pain barrier in that game.
And although the Limerick IT student has been careful not to aggravate the injury in recent weeks, the healing progress has been a slow one.
'I tore a muscle in my stomach so it's just to keep resting it but it doesn't seem to be holding up too much. Hopefully it will be alright for the club championship against Castlegar this weekend,' he added.
Portumna are seeking a fourth Galway title this year, to add to their wins in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
