MICHAEL MEEHAN has been named Galway captain for the year – but he will have to sit out the championship opener in New York on Sunday because of injury.
Newly appointed vice-captain Joe Bergin will lead Galway into championship action on Sunday as Padraic Joyce returns from injury for his first game for the county since the championship exit to Donegal last summer.
Galway manager Joe Kernan says that Meehan is still about a month away from returning to action.
He has included two debutants in his first Galway championship team sheet with goalkeeper Eoin Ó Conghaile and corner forward Eoin Concannon nailing down starting berths.
“Michael Meehan is about four weeks away from full fitness, but hopefully this will bring him on a bit too. He was in great form after hearing the news and he deserves it,” said Kernan.
He added that Joyce went well in a challenge match against Cavan last weekend and that the experience of the former footballer of the year will serve them well in New York.
“He (Joyce) came on against Cavan last week and settled things down with a goal and a point so the old experienced head in there will do no harm at all.”
GALWAY: E Ó Conghaile; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, A Burke; D Meehan, G O’Donnell, D Burke; B Cullinane, N Coleman; G Sice, F Breathnach, J Bergin; E Concannon, P Joyce, N Joyce.
