Michael Meehan has been named Galway football captain for the Championship, but will not be involved in their opening joust with New York on Sunday next.
Instead, newly-appointed vice-captain Joe Bergin will lead the Tribesmen into battle at Gaelic Park with Galway boss Joe Kernan confirming that Meehan is still about four weeks away from full fitness.
Kernan has included two debutants for what is his first championship game as Galway manager with Eoin O Conghaile starting in goal and Eoin Concannon lining out alongside Padraic and Nicky Joyce in the full forward line.
Galway XV v New York in GAA Connacht SFC preliminary round on Sunday, 2 May.
E O Conghaile; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, A Burke; D Meehan, G O'Donnell, D Burke; B Cullinane, N Coleman; G Sice, F Breathnach, J Bergin; E Concannon, P Joyce, N Joyce.
