Meehan named Galway captain as Kernan recalls Joyce

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 action as Páraic Joyce returns from injury for his first game for the Tribesmen since their championship exit to Donegal last summer.

Galway manager Joe Kernan said that Meehan is still about a month away from returning to action. He has included two debutants in his first Galway championship teamsheet with goalkeeper Eoin O Conghaile and corner-forward Eoin Concannon nailing down starting berths after impressing when they got an opportunity during the league.

“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. Joe Bergin is our vice-captain and he will captain the team in New York,” 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.

“We decided to name Páraic at full-forward to give Eoin Coincannon a bit of help on his debut. He 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. I doubt he’ll make the full match but it is important for him to get some game time under his belt,” added Kernan.

Meanwhile, Croke Park yesterday announced that it has reached international broadcast agreements for league and championship games.

With the break up of the Setanta Sports global empire last year, there were concerns about how matches would be shown outside Ireland in 2010.

However GAA chiefs yesterday revealed that a number of new companies will ensure that their matches will continue to reach Irish ex-pats the world over.

A statement issued last night said that: “From April 16, an agreement between the GAA and MSK (to be Premier sport), sees GAA matches available in Britain on Channel 433 on Sky Digital.

“The channel will be available to approximately 10 million homes. Initially, it will be Free to Air but will revert to a subscription channel by mid-summer. All Allianz National League and Championship matches shown in Ireland will be available to view in Britain. A range of classic matches will also be shown. All matches will also be available at www.setanta.com/i/global.

“In north America, all matches will be available on the Premium Sport Pub and Club network. This network has exactly the same distribution as the old Setanta network.

“For the first time, Allianz GAA Football and Hurling National League matches have also been shown.

“Delayed coverage of championship matches will also be shown on Setanta Sport Canada and on MHz Worldwide.

“In Australia, all championship matches will be shown on Setanta Sport which is a subscription channel available in over four million homes on Foxtel Satellite and cable system and also the Austar satellite system.

“In Asia, Gaelic games will be available on Setanta Asia online and launched on most of the Cable and Satellite networks throughout the continent later this year.

“Throughout Africa, gaelic games will be shown on Setanta Africa which is available in 10 million homes in Sub Saharan Africa.”

GALWAY (SF v New York): E O 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.