Mix of old and new for Galway’s opening league defence against Antrim

REIGNING champions Galway will draw a line through their extensive – and deserved – post All-Ireland final celebrations when they return to action with a low-key National League Division 1B opener against Antrim at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (1pm).

Since that historic day last September, the Galway set-up has been on a global tour, culminating in their well-earned team holiday in the United States and Mexico over the festive period. However, it is back to brass tacks now for manager Micheal Donoghue and his men as their 2018 season commences.

Unsurprisingly, there has been little change in the composition of the panel. Pearses’ Cyril Donnellan, of course, announced his retirement before the Christmas while Johnny Glynn is currently working in New York but is expected to return to action later in the year.

They do have a few injuries at the moment, most notably Paul Killeen (still out following his cruciate injury last Summer), David Burke and Joe Canning. Captain Fantastic Burke had a small issue with his knee which required some time off while 2017 Hurler of the Year Canning is recovering from knee surgery. Neither are seen as long-term concerns.

“David is only beginning to come back now; he just doesn’t have that much done,” outlined Galway coach Francis Forde. “What you have to factor in, if you go back a year to when St. Thomas’ got to the All-Ireland semi-final, it meant David got no break at all last year. So, sometimes a break like that can be as much the mental side of things as the physical.”

As in 2017, it looks likely that Galway will use their Division 1B National League campaign to give game-time to players outside their first choice fifteen to ensure they are kept up to speed. Indeed, Forde believed Galway could improve in this regard this season.

“It will be a bit of a mixed bag (on Sunday),” he acknowledged. “We are conscious of the fact though that from last year’s squad there were probably a lot of lads – even lads who didn’t make the (All-Ireland match day) 26 – on the fringes who just didn’t get enough league time. So, again, we would be conscious of that.”

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