GALWAY FOOTBALL & HURLING:PÁDRAIC JOYCE will be hoping for some birthday good luck after being drafted in to make his first appearance of the year for Galway on Sunday as they bid to fight off relegation.
The former footballer of the year, who was 34 yesterday, has not played for the Tribesmen since last summer’s championship exit to Wexford but is now close to full fitness after recovering from injury.
Joyce, who was Galway’s top scorer in last year’s championship, will be joined in the squad by Garreth Bradshaw, who has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained on Sigerson Cup duty for DIT, in a further boost for manager Tomás Ó Flatharta.
“They will both be part of the match-day panel. It is very important for us to have those lads back in action,” said Ó Flatharta, who will not have Michael Meehan or Seán Armstrong back until the championship.
Ó Flatharta will have his eyes peeled for new talent on Saturday as Galway face holders Roscommon in the Connacht Under-21 final at Pearse Stadium tomorrow. “Hopefully the under-21s can take the win. We’ll be there as a panel supporting them. We have two or three of the team on the senior panel at the moment and there are a few more lads that we will be looking at.
“It is a tough task to play two big games in 24 hours, but it is great for the young lads to get a taste of the senior panel too,” added Ó Flatharta.
Meanwhile, Galway’s quest to claim their first All-Ireland hurling title in 23 years has received a massive boost with last year’s captain Shane Kavanagh making a much quicker recovery from a career threatening ankle injury than expected.
The 27-year-old had surgery in December in a bid to sort out a recurring ankle bone problem and was expected to be away from action for six months at best and doubtful for championship action this season. But now, just three and a half months after undergoing the surgery, the All-Star nominee expects to line out for his club Kinvara this weekend.
“I have been doing a bit with the club this last while and hopefully I’ll be able to play 20 or 30 minutes against Portumna this weekend,” said Kavanagh.
“I haven’t gone near the Galway set-up yet and it looks like it might be hard to get back in. There is competition all over the field now, but fellas need to be pushed to be at their best. It is great for Galway in the long run that no one can take their place for granted.”
Turning out for the Tribesmen in this year’s league is a non-runner for the skilful full back, but Kavanagh is delighted with his progress so far, which should see him right for the Leinster championship in early June against either Carlow or Westmeath.
“There is no doubt that I have made it back sooner than I expected. But to make it back to full pace will take a few weeks, while the touch and match fitness will take a while as well,” he added.
