McIntyre wields the axe

NEWLY appointed Galway senior hurling manager John McIntyre has named his squad for the county’s 2009 campaign with a number of high profile names – such as Eugene Cloonan, Tony Óg Regan and Alan Kerins – omitted from the 34-man strong panel.In addition to Cloonan (Athenry), Regan (Rahoon/Newcastle) and Kerins (Clarinbridge), those also released from the panel include Mullagh’s Conor Dervan, Gort’s Aidan Harte, Ardrahan’s John Greene, Portumna’s Kevin Hayes, Killimor’s Andrew Keary and Kinvara duo, Alan Leech and Conor Kavanagh.There are 14 of last year’s championship squad omitted in all, with Liam Mellows’ David Collins (ankle), Clarinbridge’s David Forde (knee), Ardrahan’s Iarla Tannian (knee) and Sarsfields’ sharpshooter Kerril Wade (quad) ruled out through long-term injury.No doubt, the exclusion of Cloonan – who has been Athenry’s top scorer for the last decade, finishing with 1-32 in this year’s club championship alone – will be one of the many talking points surrounding the drafting of the new Galway panel.Surprisingly, Tony Óg Regan has also been cut loose from the Galway set-up. Although ...