Padraic Joyce and Galway's All-Ireland chances receive huge boost before Dublin game with talisman's return
The Kilmacud Crokes forward has yet to feature in this year's Championship due to a back injury.
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While Walsh is back, fellow star attacker Damien Comer remains absent
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Padraic Joyce's men have still looked formidable without them
But his inclusion for the clash with the Dubs in Salthill is the only change to Pádraic Joyce's side from
Skipper Seán Kelly reverts to the defence, with Seán Fitzgerald dropping to the bench. Damien Comer remains absent.
Stephen Cluxton is set to retain his place in goal for Dublin.
The only change to the Blues team
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GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Ó Maoilchiaráin, J Glynn; D McHugh, S Kelly, L Silke; P Conroy, J Maher; C Darcy, S Walsh, C McDaid; M Tierney, R Finnerty, M Thompson.
Subs: C Flaherty, D O'Flaherty, C Hernon, K Molloy, S Fitzgerald, J Daly, S O'Neill, C Sweeney, L Ó Conghaile, T Culhane, P Cooke.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, T Clancy, C Tyrrell; C Murphy, J Small, B Howard; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, T Lahiff; N Scully, L O'Dell, C Kilkenny; P Small, C O'Callaghan, C Basquel.
Subs: E Comerford, L Breathnach, C Costello, N Doran, A Gavin, D Keogh, S MacMahon, G McEnaney, K McGinnis, B O'Leary, D O'Leary.
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Ahead of the match-up Niall Scully has clarified that he gave no consideration to joining the winter exodus from the Dublin panel.
When the Sky Blues begin their All-Ireland SFC campaign in Salthill, they will do so without several members of the side who faced the Tribe last summer.
Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop
Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Paul Mannion, Mick Fitzsimons and Jack McCaffrey — who all started the one-point loss to Pádraic Joyce's men in the 2024 quarter-final — have stepped away.
But Scully, who recently turned 31, said: 'I could understand why anyone would but I had a couple of years on the panel where I wasn't making it.
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'It wouldn't have felt right for me. I worked incredibly hard to get to where I am. I wouldn't be able to give it up this season.'
Scully played alongside Fenton, Mannion and McCaffrey on the Dublin team that won the All-Ireland Under-21 title back in 2014.
But he had to bide his time before establishing himself at senior level, with the Templeogue Synge Street man eventually making his Championship debut against Carlow in 2017.
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