Honeymooning Joyce doubtful for Killererin's big clash

Date Published: 03-Nov-2010

FRANK FARRAGHER

KILLERERIN report a clean bill of health for next Sunday’s Connacht semi-final showdown against Mayo champions Ballintubber at Tuam Stadium (2.30) . . . but the big question is whether Padraic Joyce will line out with the Galway champions.

The triple All-Star winner could certainly be forgiven for a leave of absence on Sunday as he got married last Saturday and was scheduled to go on honeymoon this week to foreign climes.

Officially, the word from Killererin is that their most famous forward will not be in the starting line-up, but we all remember a dramatic county final appearance in 2004, when he defied injury to play a critical part in the county final defeat of Salthill at Pearse Stadium.

Player manager Tommie Joyce said that apart from the issue of his brother’s availability on Sunday, Killererin were reporting a clean bill of health with everyone ‘fit and rarin’ to go’.“Padraic is to go on honeymoon this week but apart from that, we have everyone else available and primed for action.

“We were all thrilled with the county final success over Corofin and enjoyed our celebrations for a few days after, but that’s in the past now and we have trained hard for the past couple of weeks,” said Joyce.

There is a deep seated yearning for this present Killererin side to put a Connacht title under their belts – they do get the occasional ‘little reminder’ from the ‘old players’ that they have yet to win a provincial title and emulate the achievements of the ’76 and ’78 team.

Killererin won’t be too comfortable at being hot favourites for this tie, based on their efficient county final dismissal of holders Corofin and also on the dour nature of the Mayo decider.