Walsh will lead Galway into battle

KEVIN WALSH will captain the Galway senior footballers this season.

The 33-year-old Killanin clubman was nominated by county champions Corofin at the weekend to skipper the county side for the championship.

A number of the Corofin players on the county panel were approached but declined due to pressure of the role.

Ironically, Walsh was considering his inter-county career last Christmas due to pressure of work and a young family. Killanin, who are now managed by the Galway midfielder, have never won the club championship.

There was more good news for manager John O'Mahony yesterday when it was confirmed that the injury sustained by ace forward Derek Savage over the weekend will not keep him out of the Connacht championship clash with Roscommon in three weeks time.

Savage pulled up after damaging a hamstring during a league match with his club Cortoon Shamrock on Friday.

Other pleasing news for the Galway boss is that star utility player Michael Donnellan is well on the way to a complete recovery after undergoing surgery on a deep-rooted groin injury which kept him out of the league.

Donnellan, playing at centre-back, turned in an impressive performance in steering his club Dunmore to their first league win of the season at the expense of Monivea/Abbey.

Ironically, Tomas Mannion, who has not yet returned to training with the county side, was in super form for Abbeyknockmoy, heightening speculation that he could make a late charge for the Connacht championship.

The Galway squad spent a weekend in Dublin playing several challenge games and finalising their preparations for the championship.

Kerry manager Páidí Ó Sé revealed yesterday that two of his injured players, Aodan MacGearailt and Colm Cooper, are in no danger of missing his side's opening game in the Munster championship.

MacGearailt and Cooper were forced to pull out of the Kerry team which lost to Dublin on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Galway County Board and mobile phone giants O2 last night announced details of an Lá Mór, the official opening of Galway's 11 million redevelopment of Pearse stadium.

An Lá Mór will take place on Sunday May 25 at Pearse Stadium, Salthill, with an exciting mix of activity planned to keep an anticipated crowd of 20,000 people entertained.

GAA president Sean Kelly will officially open the new 34,000 seater stadium in the presence of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Galway footballers and hurlers will take on All-Ireland champions Armagh and Kilkenny. This fixture marks an historical occasion as it will be the first time two reigning All-Ireland GAA champions have played on the same day at the same venue.

Other special guests at an Lá Mór will be Galway's former All-Ireland champions, the Men of '57.

Tickets for an Lá Mor cost 10 and are available to purchase from usual GAA ticket outlets in Galway.

*TG4 will broadcast both NFL and NHL finals this weekend. On Sunday, their GAA Beo show features the Division Two final, Limerick v Westmeath (2pm), followed by the Division decider between Laois and Tyrone (throw-in at 3.45pm).

On Monday, their coverage begins with the NHL Division Two decider between Kerry v Antrim (2pm), followed at 3.45pm by the Division One clash of Tipperary against league and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny (3.45pm).