Donoghue looking to the future
A NEPHEW of former All-star and All-ireland winner Sylvie Linnane is among eight players drafted into the Galway hurling squad.
Manager Micheál Donoghue has turned to youth to bolster his panel ahead of the defence of their Allianz League and All-ireland titles.
Eight players, seven who featured with the Galway U-21 squad last year, have been drafted into an extended panel and some could make their debut on Sunday when they open the defence of their NHL crown at home to Antrim.
Sean Linnane from Turloughmore, whose father Gerry also played for Galway, is among the newcomers who have been added to a large training squad. Linnane was on the Galway U-21 team beaten in the All-ireland U-21 semifinal last year by Limerick.
Others who featured on that team such as Conor Cosgrove (Ardrahan), Brian Concannon (Killimordaly), Joe Mooney (Loughrea), Kevin Mchugo (Tommy Larkins) and Jack Coyne (Castlegar) were also called up to the senior set-up.
Concannon and Coyne were on the Galway minor team which won the All-ireland title in 2015, with Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge) another member of that side to be drafted in by Donoghue.
The eighth addition to the squad is Shane Cooney from St Thomas, who joins his older brother Conor.
Galway will be without captain David Burke and Joe Canning though injury for the League throw-in.