Big Joe rings the changes

Date Published: 14-Jan-2010

A PLETHORA of new players could make their debuts for Galway’s senior footballers when they open their Connacht FBD League campaign against Sligo at Tuam Stadium this Sunday (2pm).

In all, Galway manager Joe Kernan has added eight new faces to the panel, including two players from Galway’s 2007 All-Ireland winning minor side, namely Cortoon Shamrocks’ Michael Martin and Leitir Mór’s Anthony ‘Toto’ Griffin.

Other new faces include An Cheathru Rua’s Cillian de Paor – one of the most prolific forwards on the club scene – and Barna’s Eoin McDonagh.

Kernan outlined that these players not only impressed in the three trial matches the management held, but were also judged on the merits of their championship performances with their respective clubs.

“The last trial match, though, the boys played really well, both teams, and we were glad to get the extra eight or nine players out of it because we are going to be well short with some boys playing with their universities, the five or six boys injured, and the four Corofin players we are also missing, for the FBD,” outlined Kernan.

“That said, it is vitally important to realise that it is alright showing well in training, but now they have to do it in a match situation. We will learn a lot more about each other from there on in.”

Unavailable due to injury for the FBD opener will be Padraig Joyce, Cormac Bane, Barry Cullinane, Damien Dunleavy and Finian Hanley, but Kernan says each player is doing their utmost to return. Indeed, he expects Joyce to return from a heel injury midway through the National League, but Finian Hanley and Barry Cullinane could potentially return before the conclusion of the FBD League.

“Cormac (Bane) and Damien (Dunleavy) might be a bit longer,” he adds.

Galway (SF squad): D. Meehan (Caltra), D. Blake (Milltown), E. Concannon (St James), F. Breathnach (Leitir Mór), D. Mullahy (Milltown), G. O’Donnell (Tuam Stars), J. Bergin (Mountbellew/Moylough), M. Lydon (Moycullen), M. Clancy (Oughterard), M. Meehan (Caltra), N. Coleman (Annaghdown), N. Joyce (Killererin), P. Doherty (Tuam Stars), A. ‘Toto’ Griffin (Leitir Mór), N. Coyne (Carna/Cashel), C. Healy (Salthill), J. Murphy (Tuam), P. Kennedy (Barna), D. O’Neill (Cortoon), M. Martin (Cortoon), E. O Conghaile (Leitir Mór), E. McDonagh (Barna), JP. O’Connell (Claregalway), and C. de Paor (An Cheathru Rua).