Galway boss Cunninghan wary of challenge posed by improving Laois
“SHOW respect, even to people who don’t deserve it; not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.”
Augusta pastor and author Dave Willis may know little or nothing about hurling but a similar sentiment is being embraced by Galway manager Anthony Cunningham in the lead-in to his side’s tricky Leinster semi-final against an improving Laois outfit in Tullamore on Saturday.
Whatever followers of the game think of Laois hurling, it has been on an upward curve. Indeed, having barely escaped embarrassments to the minnows from the midlands in championship encounters in 2013 and 2014, Galway – and Cunningham – are well and truly on their guard.
“I saw Laois against Offaly and they are definitely a better side than what they were the last two years. I don’t think they are getting the credit they deserve,” says Cunningham, who had no major injury worries ahead of announcing his starting fifteen later in the week.
“They were well organised, very well coached, very well structured in their set-up, playing a sweeper. They have a style of play, no more than Waterford, but it is a different style of play and it is an unique style that gets a lot of scores. They are definitely going to be a hard team to beat and I am not just saying that.
“To be honest, we would prefer to be playing the Wexfords or the Kilkennys or the Offalys, these teams that Galway have always had a keen rivalry with. Sometimes supporters think because it is Laois it is going to be easy but it is going to be far from that. Anyone who was in Portlaoise the last two years will have seen that.”
It is also not lost on Cunningham that, despite Laois requiring a victory over Antrim in the Division 1B relegation play-off to maintain their status, they were very competitive in their National League campaign. They have also been impressing on the challenge games circuit.
“Definitely, if there is a team going to break through into the top six or eight teams it is going to be Laois. They are on form and they are ahead of Offaly and many of the teams that are there now. Their underage is strong and they are putting huge work into those teams. The likes of your Willie Hylands and Zane Keenans just don’t appear overnight. They have put huge work into it.”
That said, where Galway have gone in cold against Laois the past two seasons, the Tribesmen carry real momentum into Saturday’s game following an explosive display in the quarter-final replay victory over Dublin.
“You know yourself, you can’t beat championship games and you can’t beat Summer games,” states Cunningham. “We gave a big performance the last day but we are very cautious of this match and we want to give another big performance. You always want to play well in championship but this game is going to take some winning and, again, I am not just saying that.”
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.