PADRAIG KELLY is back in the Galway side following a lengthy absence and is one of three changes in the team which beat Clare in their last outing. The other changes, for the clash against Offaly, involve the selection of Brian Feeney at left fullback in place of Michael Spellman and Alan Kerins who comes in for Joe Cooney at centre forward.
Feeney takes over from Spellman who is still recovering from injuries following a motoring accident while Kerins comes in for Cooney who has a muscle injury which has prevented him from taking a full part in training. The return of Kelly means that Michael Donoghue drops to the substitutes whose list has not been completed until fitness reports are available on a number of other players.
Galway have had a rather odd National League to date. They have won three of their four matches, their only failure being to Kilkenny in Ballinasloe when DJ Carey had one of those inspirational matches. Last time out against Clare, however, Galway scored 5-4 in the first half and could add only one more point in the second before ending up winners by 5-5 to 1-11.
This kind of inconsistency has left their supporters baffled but Cyril Farrell is still confident that they can continue to advance their prospects and that the new structure of the National League will be of benefit to them when the championship starts.
Galway will he hoping that Padraig Kelly has regained the kind of appetite for the game which made him one of the best hurlers in the country a few years ago culminating in an All Star award.
The Connacht team will also hope that the presence of some of the younger players such as Nigel Shaughnessy, Fergal Healy, Kevin Broderick and Daragh Coen can produce the kind of balanced team which could be strong challengers for the All Ireland title next September.
They will also be looking to experienced players such as Tom Helebert, Michael Coleman and Joe Rabbitte to lift them to another victory against Offaly in Birr and ensure that they remain in contention for League honours.
Offaly have made two changes in personnel from the team beaten by Kilkenny in their last match. Daithi Regan comes back after injury instead of Michael Duignan and Gary Cahill replaces Sean Og Farrell. There are a number of positional changes, the most interest ing being the return of Kevin Kinahan to the fullback position following injury, with the man who deputised for him, Joe Errity, moving from fullback to full forward.
The Dublin selectors have tentatively named the team which beat Cork in their last outing for their clash with Waterford. There are a number of problems in regard to injury and in particular that concerning Ruairi Boland who has bruised ribs.
Midfielder Barry O'Sullivan has an ankle injury and is also doubtful. Decisions about their inclusion are expected to be delayed until the last moment and both players, who were prominent in the 1-10 to 1-6 victory over Cork, will be given every chance of taking their places in a bid to extend their run of league victories to five.
The Cork county football board has confirmed that their centre forward Colin Corkery will he available for, the National Football League final against Kerry on Sunday week. Corkery was married yesterday and sets off to Cyprus on honeymoon tomorrow. The couple will return to Cork next week for the match and will resume the honeymoon afterwards.
Yesterday the team manager Larry Tompkins said arrangements had been made between Corkery and county board officials as far as travel arrangements are concerned: "Colin will come back, a few days before the match against Kerry in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Arrangements were finalised on Wednesday night between the county board and Colin and his availability is a big boost for our chances against Kerry," Tompkins said.
