Tribe boost as Joyce stars for Killererin

GALWAY’S preparations for the Connacht football championship received a major boost yesterday when star forward Padraic Joyce returned to club action after an ankle injury.

Joyce, in a protective cast after injuring an ankle in training, scored 0-6 for champions Killererin in a dramatic 1-11 to 2-7 over city club St Michael’s in Tuam Stadium. And his cousin Nicky Joyce, out of football since last year’s Connacht championship, returned as second-half sub and sent out a call to Galway boss Tomás Ó Flatharta as he scored 1-2, including the winning goal in injury-time.

Corofin, favourites to win their third title in four years, had a difficult 2-11 to 1-6 win over Gaeltacht side Micheal Breathnachs in Pearse Stadium as goals in each half from Damien Burke saw Corofin across the line.