€125,000 boost for Galway hurling

GALWAY’S bid for All-Ireland SHC glory in 2004 has been boosted by a cash injection of €125,000.

Twenty-five supporters, predominantly from the business and corporate community, formed a committee known as Galway Hurling 2004. Each member has donated €5,000 as the Tribesmen bid for their first championship title in 16 years.

However, those involved including county secretary Bernie O’Connor, have requested that the Galway Hurling Board should have no role in handling the finances. Despite that stipulation, hurling secretary Phelim Murphy described the announcement as “a bonus.”

Players are believed to be delighted with the development, with the monies to be spent on playing gear, gym membership and access to physiotherapists, funding for which allegedly reduced in 2003.

The objective of the scheme, according to one of the founders Michael Culhane, is to achieve parity with the county footballers. He says the idea came about when he witnessed the difference in approach of the Tipperary squad after last year’s championship encounter between the sides.

“After the game, Tipperary came into the bar looking like film stars and we came in looking like a group of down and outs,” Culhane said.

The GAA have announced the times and venues for the AIB All Ireland club hurling and football semi-finals.

The hurling semi-finals will be played on Sunday, February 15 with Ulster champions Dunloy playing Portumna of Galway in Clones at 2pm and O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny facing Cork’s Newtownshandrum at Semple Stadium, Thurles with a 2.30pm throw-in.

The football semi-finals will take place on Sunday, February 22 when The Loup of Derry meet Caltra of Galway at 2pm in Clones and Kerry’s An Ghaeltacht play Dublin champions St Brigid’s in Thurles at 2.30pm.

The two games fixed for Thurles will be shown live on TG4.

Tyrone defender Declan McCrossan is to take a year out of the game to concentrate on his studies in London.

Meanwhile, GAA president Seán Kelly will name the manager of the Irish team for the International Rules Series next month. Kelly will make his announcement on returning from the Allstar trip to Arizona. He said he has yet to speak to any of the candidates.