Galway's Joe Bergin may miss the start of the National Football League campaign after suffering an elbow injury in the closing stages of Sunday's Connacht League win over GMIT.

There had been fears initially that Bergin had broken his elbow late in the game as he challenged for a ball close to the GMIT goal.

Such fears were not realised but Bergin, the young footballer of the year in 2000, has suffered ligament damage.

Selector Eoin O'Donnellan said that it will now be a mattering of monitoring and seeing how quickly Bergin recovers.

"Thankfully, it was not as bad as was feared and hopefully he will not be out for long," said O'Donnellan, who has joined Peter Ford's management after guiding his native Salthill/ Knocknacarra to the All-Ireland club title last March.

Bergin has been in superb form for Galway as they won all three games to reach the Connacht League final.

Galway will open their league campaign on Sunday week when they entertain Derry at Ballinasloe.