Galway manager may ‘take a look’ at Kavanagh

Galway boss Alan Mulholland has not ruled out making a move for former Kildare star James Kavanagh.

But Mulholland, who said he was surprised to hear Kavanagh may be transferring to a club in Galway, said that any move would need to work for the Tribesmen and the player himself.

Mulholland admitted he was in the dark over Kavanagh’s intentions after the 27-year old last week withdrew from Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare squad.

Kavanagh is poised for a move to Milltown in Galway, having been educated at St Jarlath’s College in Tuam.

He won an All-Ireland colleges’ title there as a wing-back in 2002 on a St Jarlath’s team which included Galway seniors Michael Meehan, Gary Sice, Alan Burke and Niall Coleman.

“To be honest I haven’t talked to him. That’s basically it. I was as surprised as anyone to hear the news,” said Mulholland.

“But I am not sure of his personal circumstances, I am not sure why he left the Kildare panel. I believe he is still living in Dublin and has not moved to Milltown yet, but maybe he wants a break from inter-county football.

On the back of the retirement of Padraic Joyce and Joe Bergin, speculation linking the Ballymore Eustace clubman, who has been twice nominated as an All Star, with a move to the Tribesmen has intensified.

But Mullholland claims he wouldn’t entertain such a swoop unless Kavanagh could really make an impact on his squad.

The Galway boss said: “He is a good player. But we have a lot of good players here. What we want in our panel is players that are going to make a difference.

“If he is going to make a difference then we’ll have a look at him.

“But that has to be the criteria for us to do anything.”