Smith, Hynes and Regan may return for trip to Cork

STEPHEN GLENNON

Portumna’s Andy Smith and Sarsfields’ Kevin Hynes are expected to return from injury to the match day squad for Galway’s tricky National Hurling League clash against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday (12.45pm).

Smith (broken finger) and Hynes (shoulder) were very prominent in Galway’s Walsh Cup campaign before sustaining their respective injuries and their return to full fitness represents a massive boost ahead of their clash against an unbeaten Cork outfit.

Another who may also be available for this test is Rahoon/Newcastle’s Tony Óg Regan. He was forced to withdraw from the starting line-up before last Sunday’s 2-20 to 2-18 defeat to Tipperary. Regan had strained his hamstring in training the previous Thursday and was still feeling its effects during the pre-match warm-up at Semple Stadium.

However, he did return to training earlier this week and the management will be monitoring his fitness closely in the run-in to the Cork outing.

In any event, the return, at least, of Smith and Hynes strengthens the options available to the Galway management and with no injuries of note to report from the Tipp match, it should be a settled maroon and white outfit that takes to the green sward of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

James Skehill, after a fine performance against Tipp, will once again the posts. Declan Connolly, David Collins, Ger O’Halloran and Fergal Moore will lead the defensive lines. David Burke and Cyril Donnellan will be the frontrunners to start midfield, although, again, the return of players from injury strengthens the options in this area.

Up front, the St Thomas contingent of Conor Cooney and James Regan are both maturing into fine senior players while their club-mate Bernard Burke has taken his chance with impressive displays against Leinster (in the guise of Connacht) and Tipp. Interestingly, between the three of them, they contributed 1-7 of Galway’s total last Sunday.

Oranmore/Maree’s Niall Burke – who played almost 160 minutes of hurling between club and county last weekend and, not surprisingly, suffered from fatigue earlier in the week – should be back to his devastating self for the Cork clash.

Indeed, while Cooney, Regan and the two Burkes all have shown an eye for the target, it is still the experienced Damien Hayes who provides the spark in attack. He is Galway’s ‘go-to’ guy and this was no more exemplified by his 1-3 from play against Tipp and his lively display for Connacht against Leinster.

Matches like these, though, against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, can nurture and grow the ‘game-changers’ that Galway need. Consequently, as the year progresses – and the tougher tests of championship loom – the likes of Cooney, Regan and the two Burkes must learn to also carry this burden.

In any event, Galway coach Tom Helebert says it is another good test for a developing Galway outfit. “It will also be quite a different game from the Tipperary game in the sense that Cork’s style is about keeping the ball and being patient with the build-up and trying to open up gaps.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.