NOT a dicky bird from the Galway hurling camp this week despite repeated attempts to contact members of the team management ahead of Sunday’s long trek to Belfast.

It leaves us in the dark about who is available for the clash with Antrim at Corrigan Park (1pm) where Galway will be expected to bounce back from their defeat to Tipperary in Thurles last Sunday week.

For the record, no effort was made to liaise with Henry Shefflin given the courtesy he continually shows to the media pack after matches, but surely there is an obligation on other mentors to keep the Galway hurling public informed to a certain degree of what is going on.

What we do know is that Cathal Mannion, Brian Concannon, Declan McLoughlin and Kevin Cooney, who is out for the entirety of Galway’s league and championship campaigns with a bad hamstring injury which required surgery, remain on the casualty list.

With the Fitzgibbon Cup concluded – and more disappointment for University of Galway – it means that management’s hands at least won’t be tied in terms of ruling out players due to fatigue.

Galway were something of a disappointment against Tipp. True, there was no shortage of effort in twice rallying from significant deficits, but the centre of their defence was exposed, while a few of the team’s light-framed players suffered in the physical stakes.

Goalkeeper Darach Fahy, his brother Cianan, Tom Monaghan (first-half), Conor Cooney, who landed five points from play, and Conor Whelan were most prominent for the Tribesmen although Seán Linnane added some badly needed fire after being introduced.

You’d imagine that Gearóid McInerney and Daithí Burke will be restored to the heart of the Galway backline, while Sunday might also be an ideal opportunity to include the fit-again David Burke in midfield. Furthermore, is his St Thomas’ clubmate Cian Mahony worth a look at in defence?

The reality is that Galway are continuing to operate with largely the same personnel since this management took over in the winter of 2021. Few new players have broken into the first fifteen despite many getting the opportunity to impress. There are heaps of decent hurlers in the county, but most are at the same level.

Pictured: Galway’s Gearóid McInerney tussling for possession with Antrim’s Conor Johnston during last year’s Leinster Championship clash at Pearse Stadium.