Finnegan latest Galway injury worry

Galway footballers face into the first major defence of their All-Ireland title with two injury doubts in their forwards.

Galway footballers face into the first major defence of their All-Ireland title with two injury doubts in their forwards.

Jarlath Fallon's fractured finger continues to cast a doubt over his participation in Sunday's Connacht semi-final against Sligo and manager John O'Mahony is concerned about whether corner forward Niall Finnegan will be fit to play.

"There's a doubt about Niall Finnegan's foot injury which he picked up playing for his club (St Sylvester's Malahide) in Dublin. At the moment he's doubtful but we'll have a look at him at training.

"We're announcing the team on Wednesday night after training. Things are reasonably okay. The position with Jarlath Fallon is as it was last week. He trained with us over the weekend and we'll have to assess it over the week. We'll probably leave a vacancy and take the decision on Saturday or Sunday.

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"This isn't like a fitness test when a players runs on a leg to see how it is. This is different. As soon as we take the plaster off we'll know whether he can play. It's just a matter of whether he can make do with two weeks' recovery time rather than three."

Although the combined loss of Fallon and Finnegan begins to ring alarm bells in Galway, there's also some good news. Three All Stars from last year, Tomas Mannion, Kevin Walsh and Michael Donnellan, all of whom missed the championship opener in London, are available for selection.

"The performance in London wasn't hectic," according to O'Mahony. "We had a vulnerable period in the second half and that sort of performance won't do on Sunday. People might expect us to pick up where we left off last year but that's not possible.

"We won't win this cranking on a few cylinders. Sligo have a good record on their own patch against Galway and played well in the Connacht final two years ago."

Opponents Sligo are poised to give debuts to three under-21s: Peter Walsh in goal, the topically-named James Joyce of Strandhill and Sean Flannery from Drumcliffe who played a starring role for Sligo IT in their run to last March's Sigerson Cup semi-finals in Belfast.

The county's injury news is mixed according to PRO Father Liam Devine. Sean Davey's dislocated shoulder has definitely ruled him out of contention and he isn't even training with the team, but Dessie Sloyane has recovered from an ankle injury and is expected to line out.

Laois footballers have one major concern ahead of their Leinster semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday. Dual player Declan Rooney, who missed the hurlers' annihilation by Kilkenny last Sunday, is again doubtful. He has had a recurrence of a chronic ankle injury and as a result, the team won't be named until Thursday evening.

Manager Tom Cribbin has taken the view that Rooney's absence would be a more complicated matter than just replacing him at full back. With no cover for the position, last year's incumbent Eamonn Delaney is thought likely to move from corner back should Rooney fail to prove his fitness.

Midfielder George Doyle would be a likely switch to the corner with former under-21 Noel Garvin coming into the middle. One irony of the situation is that Colm Parkinson, who left the panel and went to the US after being dropped for the firstround win over Westmeath, could well have been drafted in to the corner back position where he has experience.

Dublin manager Tom Carr reports no injury concerns but also delays his announcement until Thursday.

Finally Tyrone tonight name their team to face Fermanagh at the weekend. The county is the last into the lists for this year's football championship. Manager Danny Ball says that there is "a bit of a concern" over Ciaran McBride and Ciaran Loughran but that otherwise the panel is injury free.

"We've been waiting and watching," he says. "Everyone has a head start on us, even Fermanagh who have made a great start to the championship and are going well. We'd like to be part of it now."