KIERAN FITZGERALD and Matthew Clancy have been recalled to the Galway team for Saturday’s All-Ireland football fourth round qualifier against Donegal at Markievicz Park. It’s just part of manager Liam Sammon’s effort to revitalise the team following last Sunday’s narrow defeat to Mayo in the Connacht final.
Fitzgerald, a former All-Star, replaces Niall Coyne at right corner back, while Clancy indirectly replaces Gary Sice in the forward line.
Clancy was carrying an injury into the Mayo game but did make a late appearance as a replacement for Gareth Bradshaw.
There are several more positional switches as Niall Coleman moves from wing forward to midfield, with Paul Conroy going in the opposition direction, while Seán Armstrong moves to right half forward, with Clancy named in the corner.
Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney has injury concerns over three key players – Eamonn Callaghan, Mikey Conway and James Kavanagh – ahead of their qualifier meeting with Wicklow on Saturday.
Kavanagh has a hamstring complaint and is deemed the most doubtful, while Conway and Callaghan should both make it.
Last year’s captain Killian Brennan won’t play any role due to a torn hamstring, although Keith Cribbin has returned to full training after a long lay-off with a hamstring problem.
Cork football manager Conor Counihan has called up county hurling full back Eoin Cadogan to his panel ahead of next month’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
The Douglas player, who took over from retired full back Diarmuid O’Sullivan, played under-21 football last season, and his call-up is seen to partly compensate for the continuing injury worries surrounding fellow defenders Anthony Lynch and John Miskella.
In hurling, Noel Connors is now expected to feature for Waterford in their All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Galway in Thurles.
Connors has responded well to treatment on his knee injury and should continue in his corner back position having made such a positive impact this summer.
Finally, Derry footballer James Conway has been handed a 48-week ban by the county board after the Ballinderry clubman gave his version of events regarding the off-the-ball incident that left fellow Derry panellist, Kilrea’s James Kielt, with a fractured jaw.
Conway was originally handed an eight-week ban for the controversial clash during the June 7th club match.
The referee on the day missed the incident but the Derry club champions were later instructed to provide the name of the player involved.
An appeals hearing was initially forced to overturn the suspension, due to lack of evidence.
But Conway’s case was referred back to the county board and has now resulted in handing down of the 48-week ban.
GALWAY (SF v Donegal): A Faherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Burke (captain); G Bradshaw, D Blake, D Meehan; J Bergin, N Coleman; S Armstrong, P Joyce, P Conroy; M Clancy, M Meehan, N Joyce.
