Lydon and Conroy to start for Galway

GALWAY MANAGER Liam Sammon has made two changes for Saturday's All-Ireland football quarter-final against Kerry from the side that overcame Mayo in the Connacht final last month.

Mark Lydon comes into midfield for Niall Coleman while the injured Nicky Joyce (who underwent a groin operation last week and is out for six weeks) is replaced by Paul Conroy.

Joe Bergin has recovered from a hamstring injury but his return was postponed by a quad strain sustained in training last week. If Galway find a way past Kerry, Bergin should be fit to feature in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Matthew Clancy featured at wing back during the Connacht final in Castlebar but has been named at right corner forward. Attacker Seán Armstrong remains another injury concern.

Meanwhile, former Galway forward Ja Fallon believes the Connacht champions have two defenders tailor-made to cope with Kerry dangermen Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh on Saturday.

Fallon, an All-Ireland medallist in 1998 and 2001, expects Damien Burke to tackle Walsh with Finian Hanley picking up Donaghy on the edge of the Galway square.

Donaghy and Walsh combined for 1-4 against Monaghan in last weekend's thrilling qualifier but Fallon doesn't believe the Kingdom duo will be given the same latitude on Saturday.

"Burke and Finian Hanley are tailor-made for Walsh and Donaghy. The two lads are well suited to them. Damien's on top form and Finian is very strong and aggressive. They're both six foot-plus and they can break even with the Kerry lads, said Fallon."

Fallon also believes the four-week lay-off Galway have had will work in their favour. "For the first time ever, I think the break will be positive. The confidence is good . . . Pádraic Joyce and Cormac Bane up front are really on song and I reckon there could be one big performance in Galway," he added. "The only thing that might come against Galway is when they have to dig into their subs."

GALWAY (SF v Kerry):P Doherty; G Bradshaw, F Hanley, D Burke; N Coyne, D Blake, G Sice; B Cullinane, M Lydon; C Bane, P Joyce, P Conroy; M Clancy, M Meehan, F Breathnach.