I’VE A ‘WAY TO GO YET
Kelly cagey on returning for Mayo tie
GALWAY captain Sean Kelly admits the National League opener with Mayo could come too soon for him.
The Tribesmen will host their old rivals at Salthill on January 28 in a repeat of last year’s Division 1 final but Kelly is only 50-50 to feature due to injury.
The versatile fullback damaged ankle ligaments during last year’s Championship and later missed Moycullen’s county final because of a hamstring injury.
Kelly is recovering from both and sat out University of Galway’s Electric
Ireland Sigerson
Cup opener on
Tuesday evening.
He will also miss
Galway’s clash with Leitrim in the semi-finals of the
Connacht League on
Friday.
Asked about featuring against Mayo, Kelly said: “It’d be close hopefully but I have a lot of catching up to do.
“Maybe if all things go well then possibly but it could be a bit too soon. I’m not sure how the running or the recovery will go. It’s play it by day.”
The 2022 All-ireland finalist admits his progress with the injuries has been slower than expected.
Kelly nodded: “Rehabbing two injuries at the one time isn’t the best thing. It’s been long rehab sessions to try and get the body right.”
Kelly suffered ankle damage against Armagh in last year’s Championship and played through the pain barrier the following weekend in their loss to Mayo.
A hamstring problem then rocked him though he isn’t convinced it is all linked to a busy few years taking its toll.
Kelly, who won trophies with club, college and county teams in 2022, said: “It was probably also the longest run injury-free I’d been on. I don’t know, I’m not entirely sure but it has been a long few years so it could have added to it. “The ankle, I rolled it in a match and I don’t think that was anything to do with the load. With the hamstring then, I was recovering with the ankle and I kind of took my eye off my maintenance.
“I had a lot of problems with hamstring injuries earlier on in my career so I might have took my eye off that but I’m trying to get everything right now.”
Galway will start the year without former All-star Ian Burke who is taking 2024 out due to study commitments.
But Liam Silke (inset, top), Kieran Molloy (inset, middle) and Sean Mulkerrin (inset, bottom) should be available after returning to the panel.
Kelly expects plenty of new faces too, namechecking Corofin duo Jack Mccabe and Patrick Egan.
He said: “We saw even with Corofin in the county final, there were a good few young lads playing when they got over us. They’re a quality side and that’s the production line Galway are trying to have.
“There was a time there I think I was the oldest in the dressing room, it was a bit of a shock to me. So there’s a lot of young lads coming through and hopefully they can seize the opportunity.”
Silke, who travelled last year, along with the fit-again Molloy and Mulkerrin are all established defenders.
Their return could free up Kelly to return to the attack having deputised in defence in recent seasons.
He said: “I’ll be happy to play anywhere and I’ve always said that. I do love to go forward but I also enjoy the defending part.”