Eoin Larkin is confident that Kilkenny's injury crisis will abate in the coming weeks.

Henry Shefflin, Noel Hickey, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty are all battling to be fit for a Leinster SHC semi-final on June 23 against Dublin, Laois or Carlow, while midfielder Michael Fennelly is expected to miss the provincial campaign because of an ankle problem.

"We always seem to get injuries around this time. Hopefully, they'll be able to get back before the championship starts and stay injury-free," the Kilkenny captain said after collecting his Opel GAA/GPA Player of the Month award in Croke Park yesterday.

"It was as bad this time last year and probably two years ago as well but they cleared up fairly quick and hopefully it'll be the same this year."

The James Stephens clubman also warned that Tipperary will be much the stronger for having Lar Corbett back in their squad.

"I always thought he would be back," he said.

"I didn't think he would just walk away like that. Declan Ryan has managed to coax him back and his business commitments have died down a bit. I think it'll make a huge difference. He's one of the top forwards in the country at the moment and if Tipp had to lose him he'd have been a huge loss." Tweet

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