Joyce is back for first round with exiles

Date Published: 30-Apr-2010

IT’S shaping up to be one whale of a Galway exiles party this weekend in the Big Apple . . . but Joe Kernan will be keeping his mind firmly focused on football matters when his charges take on New York in Gaelic Park on Sunday.

With 500 plus Galway supporters taking to the skies over the Atlantic for this Connacht championship preliminary round tie (4pm New York time, 9pm Irish), a good Irish hooley looks to be guaranteed.

Joe Kernan had his selection business seen to before Galway got airborne on Thursday from Dublin Airport, with Padraic Joyce making a welcome return to attack where he will wear the no. 14 jersey.

Joyce’s return, after a long lay-off due to Achilles tendon trouble, will be a major draw with the GAA fans in New York, in a week where Michael Meehan was also confirmed as Galway captain for the coming season – Joe Bergin is the vice-captain.

A number of players won’t be travelling to New York because of a clash with third level exams, including Sean Armstrong, Paul Conroy, David Reilly, Conor Healy and Gareth Bradshaw.

Michael Meehan is making steady progress following the knee injury he suffered against Kerry and he should be on course for a gradual return to action in three to four weeks time.

“Michael has to take things slowly and steadily with his knee injury. He won’t be rushing back but overall the prognosis is good – things could have been an awful lot worse,” said Kernan.

The Corofin duo of Kieran Fitzgerald and Alan Burke come into the full back line with Damien Burke moving to no. 7. Barry Cullinane partners Niall Coleman at midfield. Gary Sice and Joe Bergin flank Fiachra Breathnach on the ‘40’ while the full forward line of Eoin Concannon, Padraic Joyce and Nicky Joyce has plenty of scoring power.

“It will be a wonderful weekend for Galway people in New York especially with 900 booked in for the Friday night cruise on the Hudson River.

“But we have to retain our focus on the game itself. This is the start of the championship for us – we are over here to play a football match and to win it,” said Kernan.

Galway Football Board Chairman, John Joe Holleran, said that he was heartened by the level of support Galway would enjoy over the weekend in New York.

“It looks as if well over 500 people will travel to support the team and that’s encouraging in these tough economic times.

“Over 900 people will attend the function on the yacht in the Hudson Bay on Friday night. It will be a great social weekend but there’s a match as well and we want Galway to put in a good performance,” said Holleran.

The three deck Cornucopia Majesty, which hosts the party, is one of the world’s biggest yachts and is a venture organised by Dunmore exile Jimmy Glynn.

It will though be a ‘dry night’ for the Galway squad with their first few pints coming on Sunday night . . . hopefully after a Connacht semi-final place against either Mayo or Sligo on June 27 has been booked. Then the real business will begin.