Injury shock for Galway as Moore to miss season

LEAGUE champions Galway have suffered a major blow ahead of the hurling championship with the confirmation experienced defender Fergal Moore has been ruled out for the season.

The Turloughmore clubman missed the NHL Division One final win over Cork having picked up an ankle ligament injury against Dublin and the problem was aggravated playing for his club in the Galway championship.

Moore, a tight man-marker with a penchant for performing on the big day, was regarded as doubtful for the Leinster championship opener against Wexford but a scan has revealed that he will be out for the season.

“The injury was not responding to treatment and the scan has confirmed our worst fears,” said Galway manager John McIntyre.

The former Offaly manager admitted it was an untimely set-back for Galway who are hoping to build on their league title success and win the McCarthy Cup for the first time in 22 years.

“It’s a massive personal disappointment for Fergal and he is a significant loss for us. He is the consummate professional,” added the Lorrha man.

Galway midfielder Ger Farragher, in Dublin yesterday to receive his award as GPA Opel hurler of the month for April, was equally disappointed to hear about Moore’s misfortune but believes others will step into the breach.

“He’d get on any team in Ireland. He’s one of the top defenders in the country but when you’ve Ollie Canning to come in, he has three or four All-Stars, and Damien Joyce is on the other side.

“No matter who gets injured, there’s always competition for places. There’s one or two lads for every position but it’s tough on Fergal.”

Galway begin only their second ever Leinster Championship campaign with a game against Wexford at Nowlan Park on Sunday week but the indications are that they are in their adopted province for the long haul.

GAA president Christy Cooney is of the belief that both Galway and Antrim will be accommodated long-term in Leinster once the current three-year trial period comes to an end in 2011.

Farragher is understandably delighted with that. With their early-summer solitude now a thing of the past, the former All Star is well aware that the time for excuses has long passed.

“Yeah, that’s right. Last year when we played Waterford, we were four points up and threw it away ourselves. There was no one to blame but the players. It was the players’ fault for that and this year we’ve taken more responsibility on ourselves.

“The players know themselves that it’s up to them to stand up and be counted and not to be making excuses. When we weren’t in Leinster, we were coming in from the cold and, fair enough, you could blame it, that you weren’t warm enough or whatever.

“Now we have competitive games everyone’s on a level playing field so we’ve no excuses.”

The league win and performance in the final against Cork were suggestive of a team heading in the right direction but Galway have disappointed on the back of four NHL titles since they last claimed the McCarthy Cup in 1988.

Even so, that never stopped the levels of expectation rising like a swollen river in the west from time to time and Farragher is quite happy to have that feel-good factor wrap itself around the county panel once again.

“It’s probably no harm to have a bit of pressure there because maybe for a few years people weren’t giving Galway a chance. Whereas now, after winning the league, everyone’s expecting a big year.

“But, in saying that, it’s time for us to deliver and not to be saying ‘next year, next year’ with the young lads after coming in now – David Burke, Donal Barry and Joe Canning. They are all young.

“I remember when I was in there in 2002, I was thinking ‘maybe next year, maybe next year’ and that’s nearly 10 years ago now and still nothing. There’s been talk that it’s going to be Galway’s year but it’s really up to the players now to stand up and be counted.”