Galway manager Anthony Cunningham has paid tribute to former captains Shane Kavanagh and Damien Joyce.

Cunningham axed both players from his new look squad along with nine other players, most of who were high profile names as he adopts a youth policy for the coming year.

The former under-21 supremo revealed that Aonghus Callanan was invited into the panel, but that he is taking a year out to go travelling.

"Firstly, I would say that Shane Kavanagh and Damien Joyce have certainly given wonderful service to Galway and that the door is not closed," Cunningham told the Connacht Tribune.

"If someone plays well for their college or club in the spring - be it Shane or Damien or anybody else - then those players could be called in.

"As for Aonghus, he was invited into the panel, but he is taking a year out. We have had discussions with him and he felt that by taking a year out, it would also give him an opportunity to clear up the injuries he had been carrying." Tweet

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