Fennelly aware of his limitations

Michael Fennelly has warned Kilkenny fans that he "won't be ploughing up and down the field" on his return from injury.

The eight-time All-Ireland winner ruptured his Achilles tendon in the All-Ireland semi-final replay victory over Waterford in August 2016, and suffered a setback a week after he made his competitive return in a club match for Ballyhale Shamrocks on 17 May.

The 32-year-old midfielder may return for Kilkenny's qualifier against Limerick at Nowlan Park on Saturday, but the 2011 Hurler of the Year admits it may take some time before he is back at full throttle.

"After a serious injury like I've had, maybe it will be hard to get back ploughing up and down the field, with the same engine and the same fitness," Fennelly told the Times [Ireland]. 

"I wouldn't be thinking that way at the moment though. I just need to get games under my belt and see where I'm at. That's key for me now."

Defeat to Wexford in both the league and the championship this year suggest that Kilkenny are on the wane, but Fennelly points out that the Cats were in a similar position three years ago, when Aidan Fogarty, Brian Hogan, Tommy Walsh and David Herity all retired in the same week, and bounced back to win successive All-Irelands. 

"That sense has been there the last two or three years, that Kilkenny are coming to the end of the road," Fennelly continued.

 "A good chunk of the players retired, about five or six, two or three years ago. So that talk has been there but we came back and we won two All-Irelands, in 2014 and 2015.

"You can't go on forever, that's a fair comment but I think you'll have ups and downs over the years. We've been up at the top for the last number of years, competing in All-Ireland finals, winning and losing them."

"It’s inhuman to actually keep going at that level so something has to give. Public opinion will always be there but we're not going to be too concerned with that. I still think we can be competitive, without a shadow of a doubt."

Image: Inpho

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