Flynn returns to action for footballers ahead of trip to the Big Apple

GALWAY’S preparations for the forthcoming Connacht championship have been boosted by the return of midfielder Tom Flynn to the action – the Athenry clubman played the entire second half against Dublin last Sunday and by all accounts put in a very solid performance.

Flynn had missed out on the latter stages of the league with a knee cartilage problem but he has recovered well from surgery over recent weeks and will now be pressing for a place in the squad travelling to New York for the Connacht preliminary round clash with the home side on Sunday, May 3 (8pm Irish time (3pm New York).

Galway will be bringing a panel of at least 26 players to the Big Apple – departing on Thursday next – but after some stumbles in the middle of their National League campaign – they will have been boosted by a strong finish with wins over Roscommon and Kildare putting paid to any relegation worries.

Out of action for the next few weeks is goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach, who is recovering from an operation on a hand injury, while Johnny Duane and Gareth Bradshaw are troubled by ankle niggles, but should be okay for New York.

One of the hard luck injury stories of the season so far is that of Corofin defender Ciaran McGrath, one of the lynchpins of his club’s historic second All-Ireland club success.

McGrath, who has in the past recovered from a series of horrific leg injuries, aggravated his cruciate knee ligament in the All-Ireland final success over Slaughtneil but completed the game without putting a foot wrong.

However in the aftermath of that success, McGrath’s cruciate problem was diagnosed and at present he’s undergoing rehab therapy rather than opting for the operation, obviously ruling him out of contention for consideration by Galway for the time being at least.

The Corofin players who have been called up to the Galway panel includes goalkeeper Tom Healy, defender Liam Silke, midfielder Ronan Steede as well as the forward quartet of Gary Sice, Michael Lundy, Michael Farragher and Ian Burke.

Annaghdown’s Damien Comer, who shipped quite a nasty looking injury to the mouth in the Connacht under-21 final defeat to Roscommon earlier this month, is also reported to be recovering well. He was wearing a gumshield at the time of the incident: if he hadn’t, the severity of the injury could have been a lot worse. Danny Cummins also returned to competitive action last Sunday against Dublin after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Galway manager, Kevin Walsh, this week told Tribune Sport that preparations were going very well with a good finish to the league helping to boost morale.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.