Inside Track: Don’t dismiss Galway hurlers in hunt for All-Ireland glory
AREN'T the Galway hurlers in a grand position. After claiming just a fourth Leinster title and preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final, they will be largely slipping under the radar given the widespread expectation that Limerick and Cork are set for a third major championship collision this summer in the biggest game of all.
Until it's proven otherwise, the big two in Munster still look ahead of the posse, but there was a lot to like about the way Galway went about their business against Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday evening and they may be catching fire at just the right time. Winning by 14 points was a statement of intent while the inconsistencies which had been evident in their campaign were basically absent.
Sure, the concession of four goals to Dublin – and it could have been more only for Darach Fahy's fine save from John Hetherton early on and Ronan Hayes sending a ground-stroke wide of the far post in the second-half – is a concern, but Galway dictated the tactical battle against opponents who had beaten them on their own patch a few weeks ago.
You could sense from the throw-in that Galway were in the zone. Having learned a lesson against both Kildare and Wexford, there was no hanging about this time. The players in maroon jerseys were really tuned in and that early goal from the fleet-footed Darragh Neary underlined that the Tribesmen were in no mood for handing out any favours.
Galway' s shooting wasn’t always on 'point' – they amassed 12 wides in total – but you could see that they were operating to a different level to a Dublin team who failed utterly to build on their barnstorming win over Kilkenny at Parnell Park a fortnight earlier. They couldn't cope with the opposition's speed of thought and movement.
Only for an unanswered scoring burst of 1-3, including a fine goal from Conal Ó Riain, in the second quarter, the game would have been done-and-dusted by the break, but it only delayed the inevitable as Galway pulled away on the resumption, with Tom Monaghan ruthlessly exploiting the time and space you'd barely see in a Junior B club match.
The Craughwell clubman is in sensational form at present and along with a resurgent Conor Whelan, tormented the Dublin defence all evening. The attack’s younger players, Neary, Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte, and the unfortunate Rory Burke all look the real deal, and whatever unfolds over the coming weeks, the future looks exciting for Galway.
Whelan is one of four survivors – Conor Cooney's introduction made it five – from Galway's All-Ireland triumph in 2017 who fielded against Dublin and all featured prominently. Cathal Mannion operated to brilliant effect as an extra defender. He has an uncanny ability to be where the ball is and remains outrageously composed in possession. The classic hurling cool dude!
Daithí Burke, who remains a fearsome competitor, and Padraic Mannion are still providing invaluable leadership, while it was encouraging to see midfielder Tiernan Killeen having arguably his best game in the maroon jersey. Galway also made short work of Dublin's aerial bombardment in the second-half with the likes of team captain Darren Morrissey frustrating their direct approach time and again.
The versatility of some of the Galway players – notably Ronan Glennon who picked off two glorious points – shows the team is quite comfortable in the modern game where individuals can pop up anywhere. It was also significant the way Cooney, Gavin Lee, John Fleming, and Joshua Ryan got straight down to business after coming on.
Yes, we appreciate that Galway are now going to have to probably beat both Limerick and Cork to win the All-Ireland title, but for the time being let's savour the county conquering Leinster and, in the process, putting six difficult seasons behind them. Micheal Donoghue and management take a bow!
Munster Final
IT was a titanic battle if not a titanic match. The strict officiating of James Owens and the wet conditions before a full-house at Pairc Uí Chaioimh militated against a free-flowing game as Limerick captured a seventh provincial title in eight years and boy were they delighted – celebrating like a team which had won nothing instead of everything up to now.
There was only a point in it at the finish, Nickie Quaid made a couple of magnificent saves, and Cork were missing Darragh Fitzgibbon, but if Limerick's efficiency had been better it wouldn't have been such a frantic finish. Gearóid Hegarty's move to the full-forward line late on was key as were the finishing bursts of Kyle Hayes and Peter Casey. Not conceding a point from play in the second-half sums up their ability to close down opposition forwards. They are so physical at the back that even getting possession is a challenge. Notwithstanding that, Cork attackers like Shane Barrett and Alan Connolly are currently not playing well.
Westmeath
THEIR fans will flock to a sold-outPearse Stadium on Sunday and Westmeath will pose a much stronger challenge to Galway than a modest Kildare outfit did last month. The Midlanders are on a great roll at present and have shown remarkable durability in coming out on the right side of extra time tussles against the Lilywhites, Dublin and Cavan.
It's a game Galway can't afford to sleepwalk their way into. For all that, they are vastly more experienced, their injuries are clearing up, and they looked vibrant in that easy win over Kildare. A direct passage to the All-Ireland quarter-finals is at stake and after messing up last year, expect Galway to get it right this time, but not without a scare or two.
Madness
BRINGING Galway United and Dundalk all the way down to Cork for this weekend’s Premier Division tie takes the biscuit. Surely, a more convenient venue could have been found after Utd’s plans to play in Pearse Stadium were scuttled by the Galway footballers being drawn at home to Westmeath.