Metropolis set to be marooned

Gavin Cummiskey finds London manager John McParland keeping a brave face despite having to put out a patched-up team against Galway

What can be done when the wheels fall off a team's preparations for the opening round of the championship, against one of the most feared counties in Ireland? In London's case very little.

Between the end of the National League and this Sunday, manager John McParland has had to deal with the departure of his centre forward and free-taker Paul Hehir and full forward Colm Foody to America, as well as a raft of injuries in key positions. Both players were crucial in engineering victory over Carlow in the league. A morale-boosting result, despite the imminent arrival of Galway to Ruislip.

London loses players in this manner all the time so they just got on with it. But when former Dublin under-21 full back Nathan Kane's knee buckled during the final drill of last weekend's training in Staffordshire they lost their best defender.

Kane played on the Dublin under-21 side that made it to the All-Ireland final in 2002, only to be beaten by Galway, and also played in the Dublin county final for Kilmacud Crokes last year before moving to England to study graphic design and post-production. Assuming the knee heals, he will be fighting for a place with the Dublin seniors next year.

"We still have a decent team," said Kane. "Johnny Niblock played for Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2001. Also, Fergus McMahon and Gordon Weldon both won the Junior All-Ireland with Meath last year.

"But that's what happens with London; lads just decide to move on. It's not like a panel of 30 at home that meets up at the start of the year."

McParland must have felt nothing else could go wrong.

"Nathan is a big loss. He was the main organiser in the defence but there is nothing we can do.

"I've been working with them for five months and they certainly have the commitment. They really should have had more than one victory. In previous years London have got heavily beaten but we showed against Carlow that we are a better team.

"My aim for the league was to compete. We did that and only lost the majority of matches by about four points. Against Clare, it was over 10 points but that was more down to not taking our own chances.

"I've been trying to build confidence and self-belief but injuries and the loss of players, especially Paul Hehir, have been almost like a curse."

London did have some luck earlier in the year when Wexford's highly rated forward Scott Doran arrived for training. Doran, however, has a hamstring strain and is considered unlikely to start.

There simply are no adequate replacements for such players in London and now Galway are coming. Nothing less than a third All-Ireland crown in six years will satisfy them so London can expect no mercy.

"We will prepare for Galway like every other game this year," continued McParland. "We will do our best to be competitive. Galway are a great side and it will be a great game for our players to play in."

Most of these players will never get a chance to play at this level again but whether there will be fond memories is unlikely.

With luck having utterly deserted them, London will have to rely on stubbornness and grit to stop the maroon tide washing over them from the outset. It's a pity, especially considering the progress made this year.