Royal concern as Fay and Moyles miss out on training
Both were substituted during the quarter-final win over Tyrone, with Fay complaining of soreness in his knee and Moyles picking up an ankle injury.
The team was due to be announced last night but manager Colm Coyle has delayed naming it until today to give the players as much time as possible to prove their fitness.
Galway have made one change to the team which defeated Carlow in the quarter-final for Sunday’s All-Ireland MFC semi-final clash with Kerry, the curtain-raiser in Croke Park. John O’Brien comes in for Eoin O’Mahony at left half forward.
Meanwhile, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has denied he was ever asked to become an Aussies Rules player like his younger brothers Isakie and Setanta.
“My age was against me,” he said. “Players tend to be aged 17/19 years when they are recruited, but I would encourage any player who has an interest and gets a call to take the chance.”
The Piarsaigh man said he was shattered by the Waterford All-Ireland quarter-final defeat but going back to his club to prepare for the upcoming county championship has eased the pain somewhat.
Team colleague Donal Óg Cusack, who is also chairman of the GPA, was critical of the GAA in trying to prevent young players joining the Aussies Rules game.
“I think it is wrong of the association to try and stop players travelling out there. It’s such an opportunity for young players. Surely we should be delighted to see them getting on well in what every sport they choose.”
Asked about Waterford’s defeat by Limerick last Sunday, Cusack said Waterford, having to play three games in 15 days, was a telling factor, not the over-riding factor.
“From a psychological point of view, not so much the physical aspect, it’s very hard to get up to the mental state that is needed three weeks in a row.”
Ó hAilpín said he had a certain amount of sympathy for Waterford for losing out on the opportunity to get to the All-Ireland final.
“Playing against them over the years players develop a mutual respect for each other. Several members of their team are on one age with us now and it gets harder and harder every year. I would like to see those guys go out with an All-Ireland medal. They deserve it.”
The curtain-raiser to tomorrow’s All-Ireland U-21 hurling semi-final between Derry and Dublin in Newry is a challenge game between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and British Telecom.
The occasion will mark the first time that the PSNI will play at a high-profile All-Ireland programme.
“We were asked by the inter-firms organisers and had no problem with it,” said GAA PRO Danny Lynch. “Times have changed and this shows the degree to which that has happened.”
P. Curtin; R. Drumgoole, P. Callaghan, D. Webster; K. Dunne, T. Brady, M. McGarry; C. McCrabbe, J. McCaffrey; E. Moran, D. Connolly, J. Boland; P. Carton, D. O’Dwyer, R. Carroll.
E. Higgins; D. Rhattigan, C. Ford, K. Kelly; C. Doherty, D. O’Reilly, T. Foley; A. Griffin, P. Conroy; J. Greaney, T. Walsh, J. O’Brien; J. Ryan, M. Martin, D. Reddington.
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