Galway at full-strength for Leinster final after Cooney’s red card is overturned

Galway senior hurlers have received “a massive boost” ahead of their Leinster final showdown against reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Croke Park this Sunday (4pm), with sharpshooter Conor Cooney having the red card he received against Offaly in the provincial semi-final rescinded.

Cooney, who shot 1-3 from play against the Faithful County last day out, received his marching orders from Cork referee Colm Lyons with 11 minutes remaining in the game after the linesman on the far side of the field drew the referee’s attention to an innocuous challenge.

From the off, Galway GAA had signalled that they would appeal the decision and earlier this week they successfully overturned the one-match ban imposed on the St Thomas’ forward, so allowing him to line out for the Tribesmen against their rivals Kilkenny at GAA headquarters this Sunday.

Galway manager Micheál Donoghue acknowledges it has given the squad a huge life.

“It is massive. It is great,” says Donoghue. “Obviously, it is great for him after all the injuries he has been through. He played well the last day and he is good form at the moment.”

With no injuries to report, it means Donoghue and Galway have a full complement to choose from. No doubt, Colm Callanan will start between the posts but it remains to be seen if the management will tinker with the defence.

Ahascragh/Fohenagh’s Padraic Mannion was super in the half-back line against Offaly, but there is a feeling the full-back line would benefit more from his presence in this area. If so, the question is who would take up the mantle in the half-back line alongside Daithí Burke and Aidan Harte.

Adrian Tuohy (Beagh), Paul Killeen (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry), Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore/Maree) and Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan) have all played there previously while Cyril Donnellan, who came on at midfield the last day and plays a lot of his hurling at centre-half back for Pearses, would be another option.

Captain David Burke looks back to his very best at midfield where he has been partnered by Mullagh’s Davy Glennon. Glennon was superb against Westmeath but did not have the same impact against Offaly, although the conditions did play its part, and it is an alliance worth persisting with and, besides, Croke Park will better suit him.

Up front, Galway have an abundance of options. Joe Canning (Portumna), Conor Cooney, Niall Burke (Oranmore/Maree) and Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields) are four imposing figures while Conor Whelan (Kinvara), despite only scoring a point against Offaly, showed well for his ball throughout.

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