Donoghue urges Galway fans to get behind his team in Leinster Hurling final
MICHEAL DONOGHUE will be hoping to lead the Galway senior hurlers to a third Leinster title under his managerial watch against Dublin on Saturday evening at Croke Park (6pm).
Last winners of the Leinster Championship in 2018, Galway have been beaten in four provincial finals since then.
Donoghue didn’t hide away from the fact that his team have been focused on getting their hands on the Bob O’Keefe Cup for the first time in eight years since they returned in 2026.
“It's our number one goal. We've said that right from the start of the year, winning Leinster was the priority goal. Throughout the round robin, it's just to navigate yourself through it, obviously trying to improve and get better with each game. That was the priority at the outset, trying to win it,” said Donoghue.
Brian Concannon, Daithi Burke, Padraic Mannion, Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan and Conor Cooney are the only members of the current Galway senior hurling squad who have a Leinster medal.
“I've said it right throughout the league and the Championship, the squad has gone through such a transition because we hit decent heights in the league, there's probably a bit of excitement and then the expectation levels go through the roof. The young lads come in and play with no fear and abandonment. Both the young and experienced have gelled really, really well.
“The young fellas, with their enthusiasm and their energy levels, training has been really, really good. It's probably rejuvenated some of the more experienced fellas as well. There's a really good spirit, a really good camaraderie in it. The energy levels are really, really high every day. There's huge excitement from us as management about what the team can do. As I said, it was a priority to try and get back to the Leinster final. When you're in it, of course, you want to win it.”
The Galway hurling manager is hoping that a large support will travel to Croke Park to get behind his team on Saturday evening. 20,000 complimentary tickets have been made available to underage club players for this year's Leinster Senior Hurling Final.
10,489 was Galway’s highest home attendance of the year, recorded at Pearse Stadium during the Leinster SHC against Kilkenny.
“We've always gotten support, with the offering available from Croke Park, I hope the club's avail of it and get as many of the young fellas from our own clubs and county get up and support the lads. I've said this previously, you go back to 17, 18, 19, the following that the team had, I know it's easy to say it when you're winning and to the levels we were hitting.
“I've said right from the start of the league, this is a really, really young team. They've performed really well, there has to be an understanding with that though, there's going to be ups and downs. I think we had some really good performances. As I said, the expectation levels went through the roof.
“From my perspective as manager, all I can say is that these boys understand the responsibility that goes with wearing the jersey. They're extremely proud to be representing Galway. They're a young team that, for me that totally deserves the following from the Galway public.
“As I said, there's going to be good days and bad days. They have to learn their trade. More often, when you have that support and the crowd get behind them, it does make a massive difference," added Donoghue.