Hayes not sold on Leinster

Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes has reacted cautiously to suggestions that the county would enter next year's Leinster hurling championship.

The chairman of the Leinster Council, Nicky Brennan, referred to Galway's possible participation during Monday night's provincial convention in Carlow, but Hayes has limited enthusiasm for such a move.

"It may not be such a bad thing somewhere down the road," said Hayes, "but I don't know how realistic it would be at the moment. The big problem would be tradition. I can't imagine Ollie Canning bringing the Leinster trophy back to Portumna. Not that I'm saying we'd win the thing.

"But I think we are heading towards an open draw in the championship, and from that point of view it wouldn't be hugely different. But the way things are now with the new qualifier round means we're not too far off, say, playing in the Leinster championship, in that we are guaranteed two games."

Brennan suggested that Galway should participate in all grades of the Leinster championship. "On a number of occasions during the past year I commented on the possible participation of Galway in Leinster championship hurling," he said. "I am certain Galway's involvement would invigorate our four hurling championships and I am sure Galway hurling would benefit also.

"I believe we should formally invite Galway to participate in all our hurling championships in 2004 and I will be asking the Leinster Council to consider this proposition shortly. If they decide to supports such an invitation then the matter will rest with Galway for a decision."

The lack of competitive hurling in Connacht has long been a problem for Galway. Back in 1959 the county entered the Munster championship, an experiment that lasted 11 years - but only saw Galway win a single game.

Hayes feels that a more wide-ranging revamp of the championship would be better suited to Galway's needs. "The truth is we wouldn't have any great ambition of winning in Leinster, no more than say Waterford would, again because of the lack of tradition. And I wouldn't have any great complaints about the league and championship in place now."

Meanwhile, Dublin manager Tommy Lyons will await word from this afternoon's Sigerson Cup matches before finalising his line-up for Sunday's National Football League fourth-round tie with Kerry in Killarney. There are 10 players in contention for a place in action.

The game between UCD and DIT at Belfield involves six members of Dublin's senior panel - with Alan Brogan, Barry Cahill, Darren Magee, Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin and Paul Griffin are all set to start for UCD.

Declan O'Mahoney, who came off the bench to help secure Dublin's win in their last league outing against Tyrone, is part of the DIT team. Like Ó hEineacháin he is hoping to break onto the Dublin team in the coming weeks, although the return of Ray Cosgrove from a four-week suspension means neither player is likely to get a starting place this time.

DCU are away to Sigerson champions Sligo IT, with the Dublin college calling on Stephen Cluxton, Paul Casey, Bryan Cullen and Tomas Quinn. All four players started in Dublin's last league game.

Kerry will definitely be without the suspended Colm Cooper, while full back and captain Barry O'Shea remains doubtful through injury. It is almost certain manager Páidí Ó Sé will introduce last year's minor Donnacha Walsh, who again underlined his exciting potential in last Saturday's trial game in Tralee.

Most likely to be named at midfield or wing forward, Walsh contributed 2-7 from midfield during last summer's minor championship. The 19-year-old hails from Cromane, just outside Killorglin, that also produced one of Kerry's most impressive forwards last summer, Seán O'Sullivan.

Armagh, the only unbeaten team in Division 1A, have been further strengthened for their meeting with Roscommon at Crossmaglen. Steven McDonnell was rested for the last game against Donegal, while also returning from injury are Enda McNulty (knee) and Andrew McCann (calf).

Team captain Kieran McGeeney, however, is likely to be ruled out for several more weeks. The hamstring injury suffered in the Cork game on February 9th has been slow to heal and Aidan O'Rourke will again deputise at centre back.

The Kerry county board, meanwhile, is set to purchase 30 acres of land at Fossa, near Killarney. The land is to be developed into a training facility for all Kerry teams.

The site is centrally located in the county and when fully developed will provide an ideal venue for schools' and colleges' games as well as providing a much needed venue for championship and league play-offs.

A county board statement said the developed venue would also be the headquarters for the county's underage development squads and schools of excellence, coaching courses, summer camps, referees training, as well as hosting county team training. It would also host trial games and challenge matches.

Galway football midfielder Kevin Walsh has indicated he will return to the panel in the coming days, and is sure to figure in the remaining league matches. Michael Donnellan, however, is now likely to require an operation on the pelvic injury which resurfaced during training this week.