Galway duo to miss Dublin clash

Ger Farragher and Iarla Tannian are injury doubts ahead of Galway's Leinster SHC semi-final against Dublin on Saturday.

Galway manager John McIntyre says the pair will not be fit to start the game in Tullamore, as they continue their recoveries from knee and hand injuries respectively.

With Farragher not fully match fit, Kevin Hynes and David Burke are set to line out in the Tribesmen's midfield again. Meanwhile, Tannian, who has been sidelined since breaking his thumb and fracturing ligaments in March, also missed Galway's opening win over Westmeath.

McIntyre said: "Unfortunately, both Ger and Iarla won't be able to start due to their injuries. They just haven't made enough progress from their injuries to be able to last 70 minutes in a Championship match.

"And at this point we don't know if we will be able to bring them on at any stage of the match."

But free-taking forward Joe Canning and defenders Shane Kavanagh and Tony Óg Regan are all pushing for starting places after shaking off recent injuries. All three were used as second half substitutes in the 4-17 to 2-14 victory over Westmeath.

With the team being announced tonight, full-back David Collins said: "There wasn't much between ourselves and Dublin in the league match. They missed a lot of scores that day, we didn't play too well and were missing a few players too and I went off injured after two or three minutes.

"But Dublin were good and they went on to win the league - I was delighted to see them winning it - and I really think they are up to the pace of the Championship already. “They would probably like to play us at Parnell Park on a nice tight pitch, but it is going to be a real test.

"Dublin will be flying after beating Kilkenny in the league final, but Kilkenny, who are waiting for Saturday's winners in the Leinster final, will be a different team now they have most of their injured players back."