Davy Fitzgerald ‘delighted’ as Colm Galvin returns to Clare squad

Clare’s 2013 All Star midfielder Colm Galvin touched down in Ireland yesterday and will rejoin the Banner hurlers in the coming days.

Manager Davy Fitzgerald had privately anticipated the 22-year-old Clonlara man would return to the fold before the summer was out having left for Boston at the end of April following their Division 1 relegation play-off defeat to Kilkenny.

Galvin had been lining out for the Tipperary club in Boston for the past two months but had been in regular contact with Fitzgerald, who had never dismissed the possibility of linking up with the panel before the end of their championship campaign.

It remains to be seen whether he will start in Saturday week’s round one qualifier against Offaly in Cusack Park. However, Fitzgerald will be delighted that the three-time All-Ireland U21 winner will be again available to him.

In a statement released by a Clare-based PR company yesterday, Fitzgerald said: “Ahead of his departure to the US, the management team assured Colm that the door would remain open for his return to the squad should he decide to come home over the course of the summer.

“During the past couple of weeks Colm expressed his desire to return and through regular communication with his father Kevin, we were only too delighted to invite him to rejoin the squad.

“Colm is an exceptionally talented hurler and had been a key figure in the Clare side up to his departure following the National League in April. He will resume training with the rest of the panel this week.

“Pending match fitness, I expect that Colm will be part of the match day panel in next week’s qualifier tie. In the meantime, the management and players are delighted to welcome him back into the fold.”