Donoghue dropped from Galway panel

Experienced goalkeeper Liam Donoghue has surprisingly been dropped from the Galway panel for this year's hurling championship.

The 32-year-old Donoghue is one of seven players who have been axed by manager Ger Loughnane ahead of the Tribesmen's opening All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Laois on June 30.

Donoghue was a key player in Galway's past two championship campaigns - indeed, he captained his county through to the All-Ireland final in 2005 and has been ever-present between the posts for their last eleven championship matches.

The dropping of goalkeepers Donoghue and James Skehill, who has been ruled out due to injury, leaves underage duo Aidan Ryan and Colm Callanan to fight it out for the number 1 jersey.

Loughnane, who managed Clare to All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997, has also dropped Kevin Brady, Padraig Walsh, Tomas Mannion, Johnny Maher and Michael John Quinn from his current squad, with the latter two sidelined by injuries.