Galway footballers Michael Donnellan and Pádraic Joyce could have played their last game for the county. The two former footballers of the year have been left out of the squad which resumed training this week as they try to battle long-term injuries.

Neither player - both now 30 years old - has announced plans to retire at this stage and both will wait until after Christmas before assessing their positions.

It is becoming clear, however, that Galway manager Peter Ford and his selectors may have to plan for 2007 without two of the best players the county has produced.

Joyce said yesterday he would wait until after Christmas to make a decision. "I have been bothered for some time by an Achilles tendon problem that just won't seem to go away. I need to get that sorted out and then see how I feel.

"Getting that sorted out is the main objective at this stage. The lads went back training this week. It will probably be after Christmas before I know how things are. We will just have to wait and see until then," added Joyce.

Donnellan is in a similar position, struggling to overcome a long-term tendon injury in his stomach/groin area which has hampered him in recent years.

The emergence of Donnellan and Joyce heralded a glorious period for Galway which saw them win their first All-Ireland in 32 years when they defeated Kildare in 1998, with Donnellan supplying the pass for Joyce's crucial goal early in the second half.

Their paths to glory have been in tandem. They emerged on the St Jarlath's College side which won the 1994 Hogan Cup by beating St Patrick's, Maghera, with the team captained by Joyce and Donnellan the star player.

Both won Sigerson Cup medals with IT Tralee before leading Galway to the 1998 All-Ireland. They have three All Stars each, both picking up their awards in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Donnellan was named Texaco Footballer of the Year in 1998, with Joyce taking the award three years later.