Colin Forde replaces injured Finian Hanley in Galway team

Both Galway and Mayo may be fielding slightly compromised teams for Sunday’s Connacht quarter-final showdown at Pearse Stadium due to injuries.

Galway’s main absence is captain and full back Finian Hanley, who has failed to fully recover from a shoulder injury sustained in training last month. Hanley did play some part in a recent challenge against Clare, although manager Alan Mulholland wasn’t prepared to risk him for what is certain to be an utterly physical encounter.

Colin Forde will thus take over at full back, and Mulholland is confident he will prove a perfectly suitable replacement – Forde captained the Galway under-21s to All-Ireland success two years ago.

“He is a quality player,” said Mulholland, “and we are fortunate that we have the strength in the squad to be able to compensate for the loss of someone like Finian.

“He is not fit to play so we won’t be bringing him or anything like that. It’s just an unusual injury and the important thing now is that Finian makes a full recovery and is available to us the next day we are out.”

It’s an experienced Galway team nonetheless, particularly with full forward Micheal Meehan now back to his best after such an extended period of injury. Goalkeeper Manus Breathnach is the only championship debutant, having also graduated from the under-21 team of two years ago.

Mayo’s most notable absentees are forwards Alan Dillon and Andy Moran –Dillon sidelined with a groin strain, and Moran only returning from a cruciate tear, although both players have been named among the substitutes. Michael Conroy (shoulder) and Jason Doherty (Achilles tendon) are also ruled out.

Manager James Horan has thus given two championship debuts to Cathal Carolon and Darren Coen.

Westmeath will get to field arguably their strongest possible team for Sunday’s Leinster championship first round against Carlow, with both team captain Kieran Gavin and forward Dessie Dolan returning to the team.

Finally, Conor Gilsenan and Martin Dunne will make their championship debuts for Cavan in Sunday's Ulster football preliminary round clash with Armagh.
GALWAY (SF v Mayo): M Breathnach; J Duane, C Forde, G Sweeney; G Bradshaw, K Kelly, G Sice; N Coleman, F O Curraoin; T Flynn, P Conroy, C Doherty; S Armstrong, M Meehan, D Cummins.
MAYO (SF v Galway): D Clarke; K Keane, G Cafferky, K Higgins; L Keegan, D Vaughan, C Boyle; A O'Shea, S O'Shea; K McLoughlin, C O'Connor, C Carolan; E Varley, A Freeman, D Coen.
WESTMEATH (SF v Carlow): G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Gavin, K Maguire; D Harte, P Sharry, J Gaffey; D Duffy, J Heslin; K Martin, C McCormack, J Dolan; G Egan, D Glennon, D Dolan.
CAVAN (SF v Armagh): C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, K Clarke; J McEnroe, A Clarke, R Flanagan; D O'Reilly, D Givney; C Mackey, J Brady, F Flanagan; N McDermott, M Dunne, E Keating.