Waterford star Mullane’s honeymoon from hurling

WATERFORD’s All Star forward John Mullane will be unavailable for the remainder of his county’s Allianz HL Division 1 campaign as he prepares for his wedding tomorrow week.

The De La Salle man marries his fiancée Stephanie Power next Friday and is out of the game against Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday as the Déise management have given him time to prepare for the nuptials.

He will also miss the final game at home to Galway on April 17 as he will be on honeymoon in Mauritius but will be back in time should Waterford reach the May bank holiday weekend final.

Waterford will head to Reading FC on Saturday week to start their three-day training camp to allow players to attend Mullane’s wedding.

Meanwhile, Dublin’s hurlers have been dealt another blow with news Joey Boland has been sidelined for at least six weeks with a metatarsal injury. Boland picked up with foot problem during last Sunday’s defeat to Galway in Parnell Park.

Boland will miss the remaining league proper fixtures against Kilkenny in Croke Park on Sunday as well as the away trip to Cork on April 17.

Manager Anthony Daly was already coming to terms this week with the loss of Ballyboden St Enda’s man Conor McCormack for the remainder of the league.

The half-forward, who showed well against Galway, broke a bone in his hand during the game and had to be substituted in the second-half.

Dublin are already without captain Stephen Hiney after he sustained a cruciate knee injury during the win over Wexford earlier in this month.

Meanwhile, Tyrone defender Cathal McCarron is out of his county’s vital Division 2 clash against Kildare on Sunday.

The Dromore man tore his hamstring in training last week. Four-time All Star Philip Jordan could come in for McCarron for the crunch promotional game in Healy Park.

Jordan has fully recovered from hip surgery before Christmas and has been taking a full part in training over the past couple of weeks.

Tyrone spent last weekend training in Limerick as they look to return to Division 1 after being demoted on scoring difference last season.

The visit of Kildare this weekend is following by a final round trip to Navan to play relegation-threatened Meath on Sunday week.

Across the Shannon, Galway’s hard football season continues as bosses remain confident they will secure a main sponsor before the start of the Connacht championship in June.

Tipperary become the latest county to announce a sponsorship switch, leaving Galway as the only top-flight side without a main backer.

However, football board chairman John Joe Holleran is confident they can secure a sponsor before the start of the championship in three months.

Aer Arann, which came out of examinership in October, ended its sponsorship of Galway teams before Christmas. The company was Galway’s main sponsor for three seasons and was expected to be on board for the next two.

Galway officials left the airline’s logo on its jerseys for the FBD League campaign and the start of the national league but have since placed a ‘Gaillimh’ logo on the front of the jersey until a new sponsor is found.

But while Holleran remains confident they will manage to seal a deal, he admitted economic conditions in the country have not helped their cause.

“We have not lost hope of finding a sponsor and are confident we find a new sponsor,” he said.

“But it is amazing the amount of businesses and self-employed people that do not have €100 to spare, let alone anything else. Times are tough for everyone, but if the worst comes to the worst and we do not find a sponsor we will manage.”

With Galway teetering on the brink of relegation these are tough times for the Tribesmen but Holleran is confident that all is not lost for 2011.

“We need a few results to go our way if we are to stay in division one, but relegation wouldn’t be the end of the world. It is not something which we want to experience, but if we manage to bring through four or five good young players into the team all is not lost,’’ he said.