GALWAY HURLING fans’ expectations that entry into the Leinster championship in 2009 would deliver the type of preparation required to end a 21-year wait for an All-Ireland have been severely dented by the withdrawal of John Lee (22) from the panel.
The centre back, a mainstay in the side since 2007, confirmed to new manager John McIntyre on Monday evening his intention to focus on his penultimate year of medical studies at NUIG.
“John contacted me last Friday and informed me of his desire to pull out of the panel,” explained McIntyre. “We offered him time to reconsider and he availed of that but on Monday night he confirmed his departure due to his medical studies. It is a big blow to Galway hurling and I’m sorry that he is not staying on board but really John found himself falling between two stools.”
Balancing the demands of intercounty hurling and medical school proved too great a ask for the Liam Mellows club man. “John was the Galway hurler of the year in 2007 and it reduces our options in defence but we shall continue to work with what we have. True, we shall be missing an awful lot of hurlers for the weekend’s match with Offaly.”
McIntyre is short the six Portumna players, including the Canning brothers, Joe and Ollie, until Portumna’s interest in the All-Ireland club championship is over, while Joe Canning will also feature for LIT in the Fitzgibbon Cup. Damien Joyce and goalkeeper James Skehill are playing for Cappataggle at intermediate level, while David Collins (ankle), Kerrill Wade (quad), David Forde (knee), and Iarla Tannian (knee) have long-term injuries.
Alan Kerins, Tony Óg Regan, Conor Dervan and Eugene Cloonan were dropped from the training panel before Christmas as McIntyre looked to others as he strived to improve on the work of Ger Loughnane. “The door isn’t closed on anybody. We remain open-minded on selection and will be reviewing the panel make-up on a consistent basis.”
This is borne out by recalls for Andy Coen and David Tierney to face Offaly. Shane Kavanagh replaces Lee at centre back, while Damian McClearn, Eoin Forde, Joe Gantley and Paul Killilea all make their senior debuts.
New Wexford hurling manager Colm Bonnar has also named his first team ahead of the Walsh Cup match against UCD in Ferns on Sunday with Richie Kehoe selected at full back after returning from the United States.
Meanwhile, Tyrone goalkeeper Pascal McConnell fears he may miss out on the All-Ireland champions’ bid to retain the Sam Maguire Cup. McConnell is facing up to four months out of the game after dislocating a kneecap in a freak training accident.
McConnell was doing a weights workout at home when his right knee gave way, dislocating the kneecap and rupturing a ligament. He does not know yet whether he will require surgery.
The Meath County Board have given the green light for a motion to introduce a mark to Gaelic football as in rugby and Australian Rules after a Skryne motion was unanimously passed for congress.
The proposal that when a kick-out after a score or a wide crosses the 45-metre line the player catching the ball be given the option of making a mark was favourably received. The motion cannot be submitted for congress until 2010 as that is the next year for rule changes to be debated.
Another Skryne motion regarding the advantage rule will also be tabled for next year’s congress. This proposal, if passed, would give referees the option of calling play back if the non-offending team does not gain an advantage, as in rugby.
GALWAY (SH v Offaly): C Callanan; A Cullinane, D McClearn, F Moore; A Coen, S Kavanagh, G Mahon; D Tierney, E Forde; J Gantley, C Donnellan, P Killilea; G Farragher, N Healy, A Callanan.
WEXFORD (SH v UCD): D Flynn; B O’Leary, R Kehoe, A O’Connell; M Jacob, D O’Connor, C Kenny; D Redmond, C Farrell; S Doyle, T Waters, D Lyng; R Jacob, S Banville, N Kirwan.
