Galway set to field strong team for Westmeath test

WITH few injuries to report, Galway senior hurlers look to be dealing from a very strong hand as they prepare to take on minnows Westmeath in their Leinster SHC quarter-final clash fixed for Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday (3:30pm).

Galway manager Micheal Donoghue confirms that aside from the usual niggles, he expects the majority of his squad to be fit. The main exception is Padraig Pearses’ Cyril Donnellan, who has had the pin removed from his broken finger but has only returned to full training in the last week.

“Other than that, we have a few muscle injuries and a few hamstrings which will probably restrict some lads’ involvement this weekend. There are probably two or three who might not be in the 26 because this game has just come too soon for them.”

One of those may be Liam Mellows’ David Collins, who has been struggling to shake off a hamstring injury, while St. Thomas’ Conor Cooney, although back in full training after recovering from a troublesome foot injury that has hampered his involvement over the last two years, could have done with more game-time.

“Conor just needs match fitness but he is making good progress,” continues Donoghue. “Kevin Hussey is the same; he is back training after breaking a finger. He is moving well. So, we are not in bad shape squad wise. A lot of lads are in contention.”

Donoghue and his management team will not be releasing their starting line-up until Friday night, at which time they will also make a judgement call on half-forward Niall Burke, who has been away in college.

“Niall is not flying back until Friday night and, come Friday night, he will have been gone for ten days. So, we will just have to make a call on that as well,” he says.

Another call they will have to make is regarding the goalkeeping position, with Cappataggle’s James Skehill, who manned the posts for the National League, vying for the No. 1 shirt with 2015 All-Star Colm Callanan of Kinvara.

In defence, John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle), Aidan Harte (Gort), Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh), Fergal Moore and Daithí Burke (both Turloughmore) and Johnny Coen and Paul Hoban (both Loughrea) will be the frontrunners to start.

David Burke (St. Thomas’), Davy Glennon (Mullagh), Andy Smith (Portumna), Hussey (Turloughmore) and Padraig Breheny (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry) provide the midfield options while, up front, Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh), Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields), Conor Whelan (Kinvara), Joe Canning (Portumna), Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins) and Shane Moloney (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry) are all potential match winners.

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