Galway sign GAA star

Galway United confirmed yesterday that they have signed All-Ireland medal-winning forward Michael Donnellan until the end of the season. The player agreed terms with United manager Don O'Riordan after training with the club's first team panel for just over a month.

Donnellan, an All Star in 1998, when he was also named as the GAA Writers' Young Player of the Year and honoured with a Texaco Award, is expected to be on the bench for Monday evening's National League match at Sligo Rovers.

O'Riordan's interest in Donnellan, who has previously only played junior soccer, was first raised last year in the aftermath of the annual Texaco Awards at which the young Dunmore footballer mentioned to Brian Kerr that he would be anxious to try his hand at the different code.

Kerr mentioned the conversation to O'Riordan but after Galway's elimination from the 1999 championship, Donnellan later went to Australia for the International Rules tour and also to America, trips which delayed his eventual link up with United. Yesterday the United boss said that he was delighted that the situation had now been resolved and that Donnellan had agreed to sign for the club until the summer. "He has looked very good for us in training and I think he could really make an impact for us, probably through the centre of midfield or out wide on the wings."

The club conceded last night that they remain slightly unsure of what the position is with regard to his Gaelic football commitments in the immediate future, with one club official remarking that "it's a matter for Michael, but I can't see the club being confrontational about it if the question arises".