MICHAEL MEEHAN’S RETURN to the Galway panel has hit an early speed bump in the form of an ankle injury, his manager Kevin Walsh has revealed.
Meehan rejoined the county squad last month after a three-year hiatus but his on-field comeback has been delayed by a minor complaint.
The 32-year-old stepped away from the inter-county scene due to persistent injuries with an ankle injury at the root of his fitness problems.
Fortunately for Meehan, it’s the other ankle that has been giving him trouble recently and Walsh expects the Caltra forward to return in the next week or so.
He travelled with the team to Croke Park today but didn’t make the 26-man matchday squad.
“No, he wasn’t close to playing,” Walsh said. “He just had a slight setback since he’s joined the panel for two or three weeks with another ankle injury.
“But it’s a different ankle so he’s just back at the minute. Hopefully in the next 10 days we’ll see him fully fit.”
Galway achieved another milestone on their journey under Walsh’s guidance, picking up Division 2 silverware to add to the Connacht crown they delivered last summer.
“It’s important to take whatever silverware is there when its facing you,” Walsh pointed out. “When you look at the end of the year and see how many pieces of silverware is available there’s not too many. When you get to finals it’s important to try and win it.
“Winning a pressure game, that was the beauty of this, in that they really got to feel what pressure means. After last week, player’s families and friends and club mates were all talking about this game, so it’s in the bag now.
“And with 10 different scorers, that’s good to see. And not conceding a goal again. I think we’ve been taking some flak, up to now, about things at the back.
“I’m not sure Kildare even got close to a goal here. If you look at the stats, we’ve conceded the least out of Division Two, so all that makes it very satisfying.”
The two-time All-Ireland winner played down the significance of Galway’s first win at Croke Park since 2001.
“It’s very significant, particularly for ye guys (the media). It does get into the head, especially when it’s battered out the whole time. It’s important to get rid of it on that basis.
“It’s only a story. You can throw it anyway you like. It’s been 16 years. I think it’s 1983 since a Leinster team has beaten Galway in Croke Park so it’s depends which story you want to spin.”
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