No end to Galway impasse

THE latest controversy to shake Galway hurling took another turn behind closed doors, in Athenry last night when the Hurling Board was unable to ratify a replacement selector for Frank Burke who resigned last month. Manager Matt Murphy is believed not to have been in a position to propose a third selector after recent efforts to recruit Frank Curley from Kiltormer came to nothing.

Murphy and the board will meet again on Thursday night to try to resolve the situation. Rumours last night that he might settle for just two selectors - himself and Jarlath Cloonan - and not replace Burke were discounted on the basis that, such a move wouldn't get past the board.

No decision was made either in relation to the appointment of a team trainer although the name of Paul Halloran was floated. Halloran coaches the local rugby club Corinthians and has taken charge of the hurlers in recent weeks.

At the start of the evening it was, decided to exclude the media from the meeting which lasted far later than had been expected. One straw in the wind was the re election of Phelim Murphy as PRO of the Hurling Board. This was seen as a positive result for the officer board who are seen as Matt Murphy's ernest critics.

This is the latest controversy to disrupt the senior hurling team in, "recent years. Since reaching the 1993, All Ireland final, Galway have dispensed with one manager (and nearly a second but Murphy agreed to be resurrected shortly after resigning last August), two trainers and five selectors.

Matt Murphy originally resigned as manager after last August's defeat by Clare in the All Ireland semi final but returned after being asked to reconsider his decision. He named two new selectors, Jarlath Cloonan, his predecessor as manager who had been dropped with a year of his tenure left, and Frank Burke, an All Ireland medallist from 1980.

Murphy's hopes of serving out his year's appointment without further disruption were dashed by last month's resignation of Burke amid "rumours that he was being excluded from the counsels of Murphy and Cloonan.

Murphy will now be under pressure to come up, before Thursday, with a third selector who will be acceptable to the Hurling Board.

For all that, the county is well, placed in the current League which resumes on Sunday week and has a large reserve of promising players, if not as yet a convincing first 15. Players are reportedly anxious that the current impasse be broken so that they focus their undivided attention on the hurling field.

Meanwhile, further unsatisfactory news for Galway hurling comes in the reported doubts surrounding two key Sarsfields players in advance of this weekend's All Ireland club semi final against Clare's, Sixmilebridge.

Veteran goalkeeper Tom Kenny, has recently undergone an appendectomy and is uncertain of being able to make the team. He would be a serious loss as the club has operated without a reserve goalkeeper in recent years.

Padraig Kelly, the stylish wing back who is surely the only man to have been made man of the match in both the All Ireland club and inter county finals in the same year, is troubled with a hand injury and is also believed to be doubtful for Sunday's match in Thurles.

Malachy Molloy, an Antrim under 21 player and member of the senior squad, has been left out the Dunloy team for Sunday's All Ireland club hurling semi final, against Kilkenny champions Glenmore at Croke Park.

"Malachy has not been a regular in our team during the season, so the selectors feel that it is best to keep him in reserve. He is an excellent player, of course, and would be most useful to send into the game at any stage if necessary," said Dunloy PRO Tony Shivers.