‘It is so unprecedented’ — Inside Galway’s injury nightmare

Galway selector John Concannon has never had to deal with a level of disruption like this.

25 February 2024; Galway manager Pádraic Joyce, centre, with Galway coach Cian O'Neill and selector John Concannon before the start of the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Derry at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile

As Galway’s injuries started to rack up during their league campaign, the management team grew increasingly frustrated. Eventually they had to call up players from the development panel to make up a matchday 26. Just training became a challenge.

“At one stage we had 21 injuries when we had a training session one evening,” explains selector John Concannon, speaking at the Connacht championship launch in Bekan. “We could only play small six, seven a-side games. It is so unprecedented.