The new Galway manager's plans have been hampered by the adverse weather, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY

THE ROADS are keeping Joe Kernan from his new Galway charges. A double All-Ireland winner at both club and intercounty with his native Crossmaglen Rangers and Armagh, it was felt for a time that Kernan would never cross his own border to take up a high-profile position with another county.

Kernan is not the type of man to never say never, however, but the current climate denied an ideal challenge match against the Galway under-21s last week.

Kernan’s selectors are two-time All-Ireland winner Seán Ó Dómhnaill and former All Star Tom Naughton.

“It has been like the phoney war really,” said Ó Dómhnaill in the Galway Independent yesterday. “There has been loads of thinking and talking but not a lot of action going on. Hopefully, we will get the chance to see what the new lads are made of this weekend.”

That meeting with Sligo is not going to happen, and of course there was no training in November or December, meaning the 40-odd players have yet to really experience the motivational powers of the great Armagh man at first hand.

They will have heard the stories because everyone has at this stage. Like half-time in the 2002 All-Ireland final when Kernan smashed his 1977 runners-up medal against the dressingroom wall as he sought more from his men.

There is still plenty of information to be gathered about the depth of talent and whether the steel is evident amongst the Galway footballers to bring them back to the ratified atmospheres of 1998 and 2001.

It would be forgiven if he was keeping his cards close to his chest at this juncture but young names like Michael Martin and Anthony Griffin have caught the eye.

“As a neutral coming in I’ve watched every final and semi-final from intermediate, junior and right through to senior and I was impressed with what I’ve seen,” said Kernan. “You can’t say there is six class clubs in Galway but you can say there are a lot of quality players there. It’s all about gelling them then – that will be the job.

“We have picked out a few players, I think a young player there, Michael Martin, who stared in the minor team of two years ago. In the first challenge match we had he stood out like a beacon.

“He played full forward as a minor two years ago and his midfield team-mate Anthony Griffin also did well.

“There are a few others there too, a few injury problems to clear up and the boys playing with the college means are hardly great preparation for the league but come the end of January hopefully we’ll have all our players.”

May 6th against John O’Mahony’s Mayo will be the fist real litmus test of the new era. For now, despite the treacherous roads from Crossmaglen to Tuam, Kernan is enthusiastic about the return to management.

“I’m looking forward to it. You always look at these jobs maybe wondering but from the minute I went over to Galway I was made welcome. We know it won’t be easy. Everybody else will want to be winning as well.”