Galway open defence of FBD League against Sligo

INJURIES, and the ‘first call’ by the colleges on players, will mean that Galway footballers are likely to field an experimental team for their trip to Enniscrone on Sunday (2pm) where they face Sligo in the first round of the FBD league.

Kevin Walsh and his management team have taken the opportunity, for the last month or so, to look at a number of players from clubs across the county with a provisional squad of around 50 experiencing the county training set-up.

Corofin’s involvement in the All-Ireland club series – they play Dr Crokes of Kerry on Saturday, February 11 in Limerick – will also restrict the choices open to management, although a number of players from the club were in for some of the county sessions before Christmas.

Back in the Galway squad are Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Sean Armstrong and Johnny Duane but injury will rule out Cathal Sweeney (shoulder), Eoin Kerin (shoulder) and Shane Walsh (knee) from the early season games.

Players like Damien Comer, Enda Tierney and Michael Daly will be involved with the colleges in the FBD but Galway manager Kevin Walsh is looking forward to the opportunity of giving new faces the chance to wear the Galway jersey.

“We’re all looking forward to getting back into a match situation again and after winning the FBD last year for the first time since 2009, there is no real pressure on us.

“It is a good competition for giving players a ‘first chance’ at county football and lads who stay with us will develop over the course of the season – the FBD is a good starting-off point,” said Walsh.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune