Galway hurlers focused on improving throughout Leinster Championship says Tiernan Killeen
GALWAY midfielder Tiernan Killeen produced one of his best displays yet in a maroon and white jersey on last Saturday afternoon.
The Loughrea club man was in the thick of the action throughout, asserting himself impressively in the middle third. After the game, Killeen was happy with the result and the two points that came with it.
‘‘Look, we came here to get two points,’’ he said. ‘‘We knew Kilkenny were going to bring a big fight to us, and we’re delighted to get the win and get the two points.’’
Killeen didn’t feel that Galway’s heavy defeat of Kilkenny last month put any more pressure on them or put any bigger target on the Tribesmen’s backs ahead of the Cats second visit to Salthill this season.
‘‘I wouldn’t say there was [pressure], we didn’t put any more on ourselves than usual. We knew a different Kilkenny were going to come up here today. I suppose, before the red card early in the second half it could have gone either way.
"But we honestly didn’t put any more pressure on; we said that if we stuck to our own gameplan and played our own game that hopefully everything would look after itself.’’
Killeen appeared to revel in the freedom of his midfield role on Saturday, getting on plenty of ball and taking up good positions, as well as getting stuck into the possession winning battle. Although satisfied withtheir opening round win, he was targeting an improved performance against Offaly this weekend.
‘‘We have to bring that level of performance and better every time we go out. We have loads that we need to work on and keep improving on. But look, as first days go, it was good and we’ll look forward to next week now.’’
Killeen has the look of a player who will only improve with experience, but for now he is satisfied with contributing to Michéal Donoghue’s team and is enjoying being part of a group which is certainly moving in the right direction this season.
‘‘Any day you get to put on a Galway jersey it’s a huge honour and it’s always really enjoyable. I’m delighted to be able to go out and play with a great group of lads. We get along really well; we’re all really close and its great to be a part of it,’’ he added.