Hanley ready to step up to the mark

For the first time in 15 years Galway start into the Allianz Football League without the services of Pádraic Joyce, and that, says newly-reappointed captain Finian Hanley, is a timely reminder for everyone else to step up to the mark.

Galway begin their Division Two campaign by hosting Derry in Salthill on Sunday, after coming within a kick of a ball – literally – from gaining promotion to Division One last year. Hanley has been handed the captaincy armband again for 2013 by manager Alan Mulholland, now in his second year too, and keen to maintain the league form of 2012.

“This year we are very hopeful of getting up to Division One again, we want to push on, and get to a league final,” said Hanley. “And we are looking for a new Pádraic Joyce, and a new Joe Bergin (who also retired least year). They were young once, when they came into the panel. We have players coming in now and all you’d say to them that there are jerseys there, there are places up for grabs there is a legacy there for you if you want to do it. It’s up to the players themselves now.”

New start

Those sentiments were mirrored by forward Michael Meehan, who after a career repeatedly interrupted by injury, is now ready to start a first league campaign for Galway in four years .

Galway’s hurlers are also in action this weekend, after the Leinster Council confirmed their Walsh Cup semi-final against Dublin for Saturday afternoon in Parnell Park (2.0). Dublin got the bye into the semi-final after UCD withdrew, following last Friday’s postponement of their quarter-final meeting. due to a waterlogged Parnell Park.

With UCD set to play LIT in tomorrow’s Fitzgibbon Cup opener, they were unable to commit to a midweek refixture, as was required.

Meanwhile, there are rumblings of potential dual player conflicts in Wexford, after hurling manager Liam Dunne named Lee Chin and Andrew Shore for the other Walsh Cup semi-final, against Kilkenny, on Sunday. Both are also members of the Wexford football panel, who begin their Division Two football campaign on Sunday.

Donegal Creameries have announced the renewal of their sponsorship deal with Donegal GAA.