Hopes are high Galway’s postponed Connacht FBD League clash with Sligo will go ahead on Sunday in Tuam Stadium.
The recent thaw in the weather has given hope that all four games in the two groups will proceed this weekend with the final now fixed for either February 20 or 27.
Galway manager Joe Kernan has named eight new faces in his squad for the FBD League and they are likely to be given game time to see if they can make the step up to senior level. The most notable additions are the 2007 All-Ireland minor winning full-forward Michael Martyn who impressed in the league final, former Galway All Star Seán Og DePaor’s younger brother Cillian, and Eoin McDonagh, a son of former Galway hurler and GAA president Joe McDonagh. Toto Griffin who had a fine season at midfield for Leitir Mór, Jamie Murphy from Tuam Stars who scored a goal in the league final, and Barna’s Paddy Kennedy are also included.
Established players like Padraic Joyce, Cormac Bane, Finian Hanley, Seán Armstrong, Michael Meehan, Barry Cullinane and Diarmuid Blake are rested for this competition.
Galway (SF squad ): D Meehan (Caltra ), D Blake (Milltown ), E Concannon (St James ), F Breathnach (Leitir Mor ), D Mullahy (Milltown ), G O'Donnell (Tuam Stars ), J Bergin (Mountbellew/Moylough ), M Lydon (Moycullen ), M Clancy (Oughterard ), M Meehan (Caltra ), N Coleman (Annaghdown ), N Joyce (Killererin ), P Doherty (Tuam Stars ), A 'Toto' Griffin (Leitir Mor ), N Coyne (Carna/Cashel ), C Healy (Salthill ), J Murphy (Tuam ), P Kennedy (Barna ), D O'Neill (Cortoon ), M Martin (Cortoon ), E O Conghaile (Leitir Moir ), E McDonagh (Barna ), JP O'Connell (Claregalway ), and C de Paor (An Ceathru Rua ).
Fixtures: Sunday, Group A, Sligo IT v Roscommon (Ballinode 2pm ); Mayo v NUIG (Garrymore 2pm ); Group B, Galway v Sligo (Tuam Stadium 2pm ); Leitrim v GMIT (Cloone 2pm ).
