Interesting moves on transfer scene

WITH TWO rounds of championship games completed in both codes, keen observers will have noted the various new additions and missing familiar faces in both hurling and football.

One of the main arrivals to the county is Westmeath inter-county hurler Aaron Craig who has joined St. Anne’s from his home clubs: St. Oliver Plunkett’s (Mullingar) in the small ball code, and Shandonagh in football.

Another Westmeath man, Shane Flynn, has made his debut for the Gusserane Senior footballers after arriving from St. Loman’s (Mullingar), while ex-St. Mullins (Carlow) man Darren Whelan has been featuring in the heart of the St. Patrick’s (Ballyoughter) defence, and up front for the footballers.

Oylegate-Glenbrien have been bolstered by the return of Jim White from Thomas Davis in Dublin, while ex-Ballyfad hurler Maurice Stanley has also come home, from Na Fianna in Dublin back to Tara Rocks.

And the list of transfers within Leinster since the start of the year also includes Gearóid Devitt, the new county Secretary.

He has gone from one Na Fianna to the other, the version in Glasnevin to the newly rebranded Clonard - the club his father, Eamonn, played with in the past.

It’s not all good news for local clubs on the transfer front though. For example, St. Mary’s (Rosslare) will sorely miss the services of a stalwart of both codes in Paul Kinsella who has moved to Young Irelands in Kilkenny.

Likewise, HWH-Bunclody veteran Joe Kavanagh has transferred to the Garda club in Dublin, while Jeff Scally is no longer with St. John’s Volunteers after his switch to Kilclonfert in Offaly.