Kilkenny midfielder Michael Fennelly is hoping to start against Galway in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League semi-final against Galway at the Gaelic Grounds.
Fennelly (29) made his seasonal return in last month’s quarter-final victory over Wexford. The Ballyhale Shamrocks powerhouse marked his substitute appearance with two points from play.
Fennelly has returned refreshed from a fact-finding mission with the Sydney Swans as part of his studies for a Masters in sports performance at University of Limerick.
Facilitated
Former Kerry footballer and Swans Premiership winner Tadhg Kennelly facilitated Fennelly's two-and-a-half month internship with the AFL club.
And Fennelly admitted watching the Swans players training five days a week, often twice a day, left him envious.
He said: “Of course I was. 100 per cent. You get the option to turn your body into what you can.
“You are there Monday to Friday training and you can do so much with your body, increase your fitness, strength.
“I think every player would love to play hurling or Gaelic football full time but it’s just not financially viable.
“The Sky deal is a hint of international companies coming in with sponsorship. We’d all love to not have jobs and be playing the games full time. I then think the heights of the game would increase as well.”
And Fennelly provided possible good news for Kerry football fans when he revealed the Kingdom's former All-Ireland winner Tommy Walsh is hankering for a return home from the Sydney Swans.
Fennelly revealed: “I think he’d love to come home because he does miss it and he’s been there five years. His contract is up this year.”
Over the last two seasons, Fennelly has had his share of injury woes, with serious damage to both ankles.
“There were so many problems there. Things were only showing up a few weeks afterwards and then something else would show up, so it made the whole thing more complicated but hopefully I’m on the right side of it.”
Fennelly also believes a glorious Kilkenny era reached the end of its natural cycle last year, adding: “If you’ve a few people out injured, it can really hurt a team. Maybe the bench wasn’t as strong as it is this year.
“We did our best and gave it a rattle. The work-rate is never in question. “We just went a bit stale, really.”
Meanwhile, Galway forward Jonathan Glynn believes the Tribesmen can draw inspiration from champions Clare as they seek to end their All-Ireland SHC famine.
Clare emerged from the shadows to win a first All-Ireland title since 1997, with Galway one of their victims at the quarter-final stage.
Galway, who went close to ultimate glory in 2012, suffered a damaging Leinster final defeat against Dublin the following year and bowed out of the All-Ireland series in tame fashion against the eventual champions.
Dedication
Galway have not tasted All-Ireland glory since 1988 but Glynn has been impressed by the dedication of some of his University of Limerick colleagues.
Conor Ryan, man of the match in the drawn 2013 All-Ireland final, hurler of the year nominee Podge Collins and Séadna Morey played on the same Fitzgibbon Cup team as Glynn this year.
“Off the pitch I’d be very good friends with Conor Ryan and as a person he’s awful sound.
“When he comes to training he’s dedicated. He achieved what he wanted to achieve and if everyone else is like him you can understand why Clare won the All-Ireland.”
