Hayes confirms Galway panel

Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes has confirmed his panel for the forthcoming All-Ireland SHC qualifiers with teenage sensation Joe Canning a notable absentee.

Hayes has omitted the 17-year-old Canning, allowing him to concentrate on his Leaving Cert exams and gaining a record third All-Ireland minor medal later this summer.

Hayes is wary of heaping too much too soon on the youngster, who steered Portumna to All-Ireland Club success in March.

Some observers reckon Canning, the scorer of 1-06 in Portumna's Club final win over Newtownshandrum, deserves to shine at senior level despite his teenage years.

But Hayes said: "It is vital that Joe is minded and everything is allowed take its course.

"He is still a minor. He will be on the county minor side this year, the county Under-21s and he is be playing senior, U-21 and minor for his club."

Nonetheless, if Galway progress through the qualifiers, Canning could still be added to the 30-man squad.

Last year's All-Ireland minor-winning captain Andrew Keary and Kenneth Burke, who skippered the Under-21s to an All-Ireland title of their own, have made the senior cut.

Kerrill Wade, who struck the winning point in the Under-21s' final victory over Kilkenny last September, is also in, as are U-21 goalkeeper Aidan Ryan and defender Paul Flynn.

Hayes will also run the rule over Canning's Portumna team mate Eoin Lynch, Castlegar's Cathal Connolly, the son of Galway legend John, and former lynchpin forward Eugene Cloonan, who missed last year's run through to the All-Ireland SHC final.

David Donoghue, Andy Coen and Paul Dullaghan - substitutes for last September's Liam McCarthy decider against Cork - are among those to miss out.

Liam Hodgins (retired) and Aonghus Callanan (wrist injury) are also absent from the Tribesmen's panel.

GALWAY (Panel) - L Donoghue (capt), A Ryan, D Joyce, O Canning, T Og Regan, S Kavanagh, D Hardiman, D Collins, F Healy, D Tierney, R Murray, D Forde, A Kerins, G Farragher, N Healy, Damien Hayes, David Hayes, C Coen, G Mahon, K Broderick, E Cloonan, C Dervan, MJ Quinn, K Burke, C Connolly, A Diviney, P Flynn, A Keary, E Lynch, K Wade.