A long G.A.A. season starts in the West this Wednesday evening

By JIM CARNEY THE OLD YEAR in football here in Galway ran up to the Sunday before Christmas and the new season is up and running from today (Wednesday). This evening, the new Connacht GAA Council-owned Centre of Excellence near Bekan (between Knock and Ballyhaunis) will host a double-bill in the FBD-sponsored provincial Senior Football League. Galway team this evening: Brian O'Donoghue (Claregalway); Keith Kelly (Ballinasloe), Colin Forde (Killererin), Donal O'Neill (Cortoon Shamrocks); Conor Halloran (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn), Damien O'Reilly (Oughterard); Fintan Ó Curraoin (Mícheál Breathnachs), Paul Conroy (St James's); Cathal Kenny (Mountbellew-Moylough), Cormac Bane (Caherlistrane), Mícheál Boyle (Killererin); Adrian Murphy (Kilconly), Jo Jo Greaney (Oughterard), Shane Maughan (St Michael's). Subs., Maghnus Breathnach (An Spidéal), Thomas Flynn (Athenry), Michael Martin (Milltown), Ciarán McGrath (Corofin), Gary O'Donnell (Tuam Stars), Mark Hehir (Milltown), Tomás Fahy (Killererin), Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Gary Sice (Corofin). N.U.I. Galway, again under the management of John Maughan and Tomás Tierney, will have three Galway players available to them for the F.B.D. League: Greg Higgins (Corofin), Gary Sweeney and Joss Moore (both Mountbellew-Moylough).   Section A. Wednesday, Jan 4th (under lights), double-bill, at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Ballyhaunis; Galway vs I.T. Sligo, 6.30 p.m., referee John Glavey (Mayo); Sligo vs N.U.I.G. at 8.00 o'clock; referee Liam Devenney (Mayo). Saturday, Jan. 7th at I.T. Sligo grounds, I.T. Sligo vs London, 7.30; referee: Eamon O'Grady (Leitrim). Sunday, Jan. 8th at Tuam Stadium, Galway vs N.U.I.G., 2:00 p.m., referee Shane Hehir (Galway). At Kent Park, Sligo, London vs Sligo, 2.00 p.m., referee Paddy Neilan (Roscommon). Saturday, Jan. 14th at Ballyforan, N.U.I.G. vs London, 7.30. Sunday, Jan. 15th at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe: Galway vs London; 2.00 p.m., referee Oliver Kelly (Roscommon). At Enniscrone, Sligo vs I.T. Sligo; 2.00 p.m., referee Vincent Neary (Mayo). Sunday, Jan. 22nd at Tuam Stadium, Galway vs Sligo, 2.00 p.m., referee Francis Flynn (Leitrim). At Tourlestrane, I.T. Sligo vs N.U.I.G., 2.00 p.m., referee Declan Corcoran (Mayo).   Section B. Sunday, Jan. 8th at Ballyhaunis, Mayo vs Leitrim, 2.00 p.m., referee Michael Duffy (Sligo). At Ballyforan, 2.00 p.m., G.M.I.T. vs Roscommon, referee Jerome Henry. Sunday, Jan. 15th at Ballinrobe, Mayo vs G.M.I.T., 2.00 p.m., referee T. J. Keaveney (Sligo). At Cloone, Leitrim vs Roscommon, 2.00 p.m., referee Marty Duffy (Sligo). Sunday, Jan. 22nd at Ballinlough, Roscommon vs Mayo, 2.00 p.m., referee Ray McBrien (Leitrim). At Strokestown, Leitrim vs G.M.I.T., 2.00 p.m., referee Declan Hunt (Roscommon).   Sunday, January 29th. Home final: Section A winner vs Section B winner. Sunday, October 7th: New York vs winner of â€Ëœhome' final.   WALSH CUP HURLING   THE LEINSTER senior hurling tournament, sponsored by Bord na Móna, and including Galway and N.U.I. Galway, starts on January 22nd: (first named teams at home) Carlow vs U.C.D., Laois vs D.I.T., Wexford vs N.U.I.G., Westmeath vs Offaly. On Sunday, January 29th Galway will play the winner of Carlow vs U.C.D., and Kilkenny will play the winner of Wexford vs N.U.I.G. Dublin will play Laois or D.I.T. Semi-finals on Feb 5th; Walsh Cup final Feb. 12th. ALL-IRELAND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS   ALL-IRELAND Senior Club Hurling Championship semi-finals: Saturday, February 11th. Gort (Galway) vs Coolderry (Offaly) at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick; Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) vs Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) at Parnell Park, Dublin. Both games at 2.00 p.m. All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship semi-finals: Saturday, February 18th. St Brigid's (Roscommon) vs Garrycastle (Westmeath) at Pearse Park, Longford; Dr Croke's (Kerry) vs Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise; both games at 2.00 p.m. Sunday, January 22. All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship semi finals: Davitts (Mayo) vs Éire Óg, Greystones (Wicklow) at O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 2.00 p.m. Castlemaine (Kerry) vs Craigbane (Derry) at Portlaoise, 3.30 p.m. Sunday, January 22nd. All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship semi-finals: Clonbur (Galway) vs Ballivor (Meath) at Pearse Park, Longford, 2.00 p.m. Derrytresk Fir an Chnoic (Tyrone) vs Dromid Pearse's (Kerry) at Portlaoise, 2.00 p.m. Sunday, January 22nd. All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship semi-finals: Effin (Limerick) vs Middletown Na Fianna (Armagh) at Athy, 2.00 p.m. Mount Leinster Eangers (Carlow) vs Robert Emmet's (London) at Parnell Park, Dublin, 1.00 p.m. Sunday, January 22nd. All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship semi-finals: Ballygar (Galway) vs St Patrick's, Ballyragget (Kilkenny) at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, 2.00 p.m. Charleville (Cork) vs Fullen Gaels (Warwickshire) at Walsh Park, Waterford, 1.00 p.m.   NATIONAL LEAGUES 2012 GALWAY will play this year in Division 2 of the National Football League, along with Derry, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Tyrone and Westmeath. Galway's first League outing will be on Sunday, February 5th away to Derry. On the same day Louth will be at home to Westmeath, while on the Saturday (Feb. 4th) Kildare will be at home to Tyrone and Meath at home to Monaghan. Sunday, Feb. 12th (first named teams have home venue). Galway vs Louth; Westmeath vs Meath; Monaghan vs Kildare; Tyrone vs Derry. Saturday, March 3rd. Derry vs Monaghan; Meath vs Kildare. Sunday, March 4th. Westmeath vs Galway; Louth vs Tyrone. Saturday, March 10th. Tyrone vs Westmeath. Sunday, March 11th. Galway vs Meath; Monaghan vs Louth; Kildare vs Derry. Sunday, March 18th. Galway vs Tyrone; Westmeath vs Monaghan; Meath vs Derry; Louth vs Kildare. Saturday, March 24th. Tyrone vs Meath. Sunday, March 25th. Monaghan vs Galway; Derry vs Louth; Kildare vs Westmeath. Sunday, April 8th. Galway vs Kildare; Westmeath vs Derry; Meath vs Louth; Tyrone vs Monaghan. Sunday, April 29th. N.F.L. final.   Division 1. Armagh, Cork, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Kerry, Laois, Mayo. Saturday, February 4th. Dublin vs Kerry; Laois vs Mayo; Down vs Donegal. Sunday, Feb. 5th. Armagh vs Cork. Saturday, Feb. 11th. Mayo vs Dublin; Kerry vs Armagh. Sunday, Feb. 12th. Donegal vs Laois; Cork vs Down. Saturday, March 3rd. Armagh vs Mayo; Laois vs Dublin. Sunday, March 4th. Donegal vs Cork; Down vs Kerry. Saturday, March 10th. Cork vs Laois. Sunday, March 11th. Dublin vs Armagh; Kerry vs Donegal; Mayo vs Down. Sunday, March 18th. Cork vs Kerry; Down vs Dublin; Laois vs Armagh; Donegal vs Mayo. Saturday, March 24th. Dublin vs Donegal; Armagh vs Down. Sunday, March 25th. Kerry vs Laois; Mayo vs Cork. Sunday, April 8th. Laois vs Down; Kerry vs Mayo; Cork vs Dublin; Donegal vs Armagh. N.F.L. semi-finals: Sunday, April 15th. Finals: Sunday, April 29th.     N.H.L. 2012, Division 1A. Galway, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford. Saturday, February 25th. Cork vs Waterford. Sunday, Feb. 26th. Galway vs Dublin; Kilkenny vs Tipperary. Sunday, March 11th. Tipperary vs Galway; Dublin vs Cork; Waterford vs Kilkenny. Sunday, March 18th. Cork vs Galway; Kilkenny vs Dublin; Tipperary vs Waterford. Saturday, March 24th. Dublin vs Tipperary. Sunday, March 25th. Galway vs Waterford; Cork vs Kilkenny. Sunday, April 1st. Kilkenny vs Galway; Tipperary vs Cork; Waterford vs Dublin. Relegation play-off matchess: April 15th. League semi-finals April 21st. League final May 6th.       N.H.L. Division 1B.  Saturday, Feb. 25th. Limerick vs Clare. Sunday, Feb. 26th. Offaly vs Laois; Antrim vs Wexford. Sunday, March 11th. Clare vs Antrim; Wexford vs Offaly; Laois vs Limerick. Sunday, March 18th. Laois vs Clare; Offaly vs Antrim; Wexford vs Limerick. Saturday, March 24th. Limerick vs Offaly. Sunday, March 25th. Clare vs Wexford; Antrim vs Laois. Sunday, April 1st. Wexford vs Laois; Offaly vs Clare; Antrim vs Limerick. Relegation play-off matches: April 15th. League semi-finals April 21st. League final April 29th.