Free run for Galway

Roscommon have withdrawn from the Connacht hurling final with Galway on July 8th

Roscommon have withdrawn from the Connacht hurling final with Galway on July 8th. According to county hurling secretary Tommy Connolly, the decision was made with extreme reluctance but the lack of player commitment left the county board with no choice.

With nine of last year's panel absent this season for various reasons, the board was forced to pull out. On Wednesday night Roscommon ended their own Division Two league campaign with a 10-point loss to Westmeath.

Galway will now have no competitive match until the All-Ireland quarter-final on July 23rd - giving then an idle period of more than two months since the league victory in Limerick last Sunday.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics