NEWS:Apart from two in the existing panel, players from Clarinbridge will not be asked to face Dublin, writes IAN O'RIORDAN

GALWAY HURLING manager John McIntyre has resisted calling on any of the All-Ireland-winning Clarinbridge players ahead of Sunday’s Division One showdown with Dublin in the Allianz Hurling League. McIntyre says it would be “heartless” to start rejigging his panel at this stage of the season, but would be doing a full review of personnel ahead of the championship.

Dublin, unbeaten this season, top Division One and another win in Parnell Park on Sunday would leave them one victory short of a hurling league final for the first time since 1946 – albeit with Kilkenny and Cork still to come. However, Galway, the reigning league champions, are just one point behind in second, and a victory for them would be equally significant in bringing them back to a league final.

Clarinbridge’s All-Ireland club victory over O’Loughlin Gaels last Thursday actually marked the second Galway triumph over Kilkenny opposition within a week, as McIntyre’s team had also beaten Kilkenny in round four of the league the previous Sunday.

But for now, despite the comprehensive nature of their victory, McIntyre won’t be exploring further Clarinbridge recruitment beyond the two existing panel members from the club – midfielder Barry Daly and forward Eoin Forde.

“I said I’d let those two fully enjoy the victory, before rejoining the squad next Tuesday night,” says McIntyre. “But other than bringing back those two, we’ll stick with the existing personnel to see us through the rest of the league, and do a review of the squad then.

“We’ve only three rounds left to play, and two of those will be over in the next 10 days. So in fairness to the players who have been soldiering with us since last November I feel it would be heartless to start rejigging the panel at this stage. So we’re going to hold fire on any decisions like that. Obviously we will be reflecting on Clarinbridge’s exploits, what they achieved, and the players that helped achieve it. They gave Galway a fantastic lift last week, and as a former coach of theirs, I was thrilled for them.

“But we’ll carry on with what we have for now, with the two existing panel members, Forde and Daly, coming back next Tuesday. But then everything will be up for grabs when we sit down again in May to finalise our championship panel.”

Among the contenders for a call-up to the county panel are former representatives Mark and Alan Kerins, who both produced a majestic display last Thursday, and also defender David Forde. However, it’s no secret that Mark Kerins has had injury problems in the past, and there are doubts whether these players are still up to the demands of county hurling, which is a considerable step up from club level.

McIntyre is also keen to keep his existing panel focused on Sunday’s showdown with Dublin. He’ll be missing some key players including forward Iarla Tannian (who is travelling to the US for a family wedding) with further injury concerns over Ger Farragher (dead leg) and Joe Grantley (groin) and David Burke (shin wound) – to add to long-term injury absentees Joe Canning, Damien Hayes, Kevin Hynes and Aidan Harte.

“Dublin are flying it at the moment,” says McIntyre. “They’ve been the hurling team of the year so far, unbeaten. Top of the league and Walsh Cup champions. So Dublin hurling is on a real upward curve, and the addition of Ryan O’Dwyer and Conal Keaney’s return has given them an attacking edge up front that they haven’t had before.

“But of course this is a big game for Galway too. I don’t want to be seen to be making excuses ahead of the issue. We’re going up to win. We got a lesson from them already this year in the Walsh Cup semi-final, where they wanted the result more than we did. We won’t be going in wearing any blindfolds, no matter who we have or who we’re missing.”

Dublin manager Anthony Daly is missing a few first-choice players of his own, the most unfortunate being team captain Stephen Hiney, who is ruled out for the rest of the season having suffered a complete rupture of his anterior cruciate knee ligament in the win over Wexford last Sunday week. Midfielder Johnny McCaffrey was yesterday confirmed as replacement captain for 2011, a role he’s well familiar with: the Lucan Sarsfields player previously captained the Dublin minors and under-21s.

Alan McCrabbe is still some ways off returning to match fitness following a hip operation earlier this year, although Daly will have Keaney back on board; he missed the Wexford game last Sunday week because of sickness, and given his prolific scoring rate this season will be crucial to Dublin’s chances of winning on Sunday.

It remains to be seen if defender Peter Kelly will be cleared to play. He’s due to have his appeal against a four-week suspension heard this week, having been handed the ban, retrospectively, following Dublin’s win over Offaly in round three. Kelly was involved in the incident that resulted in Offaly forward Shane Dooley sustaining a serious ear injury, although Dublin reckon they have video evidence to prove Kelly’s involvement was purely accidental.