Boost for Galway footballers as quartet get injury all-clear

Galway footballers have received a major boost for their Connacht final clash with Mayo in Castlebar on Sunday (2pm) with Shane Walsh, Paul Conroy, James Kavanagh and Joss Moore all getting the all-clear from the medics.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman Walsh had been out of action since the win over Sligo with ligament damage to his ankle but yesterday the news was good for Shane Walsh and for Galway.

Mountbellew-Moylough’s Moore had been troubled by a niggling knee problem but he came through the recent match against Menlough match without any reaction and has been training since with the county side.

Conroy (St James’) and Kavanagh (Milltown) have also been passed fit for action, giving Mulholland and his selectors – Declan Meehan and Paul Clancy – something of a welcome dilemma.

“It’s what we want in the run-up to the Mayo match . . . to have everyone available. The way the game is played now, you need a strong panel and you need the option of bringing on strong players.

“We also expect to have Keith Kelly back in full training this week although Sunday’s game may come a bit too soon for him. So we are picking from a strong hand,” said Mulholland.

Galway will be hoping to build on the solid displays they gave against London in Ruislip and Sligo in Markievicz Park, but they won’t need any reminding that Mayo represent a big step-up in class.

Mayo came close to being caught on the hop against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final at Hyde Park over a month ago but they showed a fair bit of steel to edge them over the line in an uncompromising encounter.

Galway will announce their starting 15 on Thursday (9pm) with the trio of Moore, Kavanagh and Sean Armstrong pushing hard for ‘the start’, from the side that beat Sligo on the longest day of the year in the Connacht semi-final.