Galway leave vacancy in attack

Galway have left a vacancy on the team to face Derry in Sunday's All- Ireland football semi-final. AN Other is listed at right wing forward pending fitness reports on Jarlath Fallon and Paul Clancy.

Fallon tore his hamstring in the final qualifier round victory over Cork five weeks ago and had to miss the quarter-final against Roscommon. Clancy started that match but experienced a reaction to his severe ankle break earlier this year.

Both players were tested last Saturday and felt sore the following day so question marks remain concerning their participation at the weekend. According to manager John O'Mahony, there are no definite indications yet as to the players' likely fitness. "Both came through a light work-out this evening but we'll have to wait and see if they're fit to play. That decision probably won't be made until Sunday morning."

He also said that there was no pecking order between Fallon and Clancy should both players prove their fitness. Should neither come through tests at the weekend, Matthew Clancy and Kieran Comer will come into consideration.

The selection means that the team is largely unchanged from the quarter-final win over Roscommon with only Paul Clancy not named.

One man with a good knowledge of both sides is retired Armagh joint- manager Brian Canavan whose team were defeated by Galway in the qualifiers and who defeated Derry in last year's Ulster final. He also has considerable experience of juggling injured players. His star forward Diarmuid Marsden frequently had to make his entrance from the bench because of injury problems. Canavan believes that Galway should keep Fallon in reserve.

"It takes four weeks to recover from a hamstring but another two weeks to regain fitness. If Ja Fallon isn't fit to play he won't perform. If there's a doubt, it's best to keep him on the bench and bring him on for 20 minutes if you have to.

"Diarmuid Marsden's case was particularly awkward because he was so injury-prone. It wasn't the actual injury that kept him out but lack of fitness."

His view of the match is that the Connacht side should win. "Simply because they beat us, I fancy Galway. They were only beginning to get their act together - just as we were and if we'd won, we'd be confident of beating Derry.

" I don't think Derry have enough in attack. Their defence has tightened up in recent games and midfield is sound but up front is where it's won. Maybe if it's a low-scoring game, Derry have a chance. Weather will be important as well. If it's a fine day, Galway would have too much up front."

The team shows seven changes from the side that defeated Derry at the same stage three years ago. This represents a substantial turnover but of the seven, only three have departed the panel, the retired Martin McNamara, Fergal Gavin and Niall Finnegan. Coincidentally Galway also left a vacancy at wing forward for that match with Gavin coming in on the day. The match represented Jarlath Fallon's best performance up to that point in the championship. He kicked 0-4 from play as Galway pushed to a 0-16 to 1-8 victory.

Derry will release their team this evening. Manager Eamonn Coleman, who wasn't in charge three years ago, and his selectors report a clean bill of health and will have a full pick.

Kilkenny still want Brian Cody to manage the county hurling team. "We still have every confidence in Brian Cody," insisted county board chairman Ned Quinn, who has invited Cody to continue in the job.

GALWAY (SF v Derry): A Keane; K Fitzgerald, G Fahey, R Fahey; D Meehan, T Mannion, S de Paor; K Walsh, M Donnellan; AN Other, T Joyce, J Bergin; A Kerins, P Joyce, D Savage.