Round two of Leinster SHC semi-final set to be extremely competitive
PORTUMNA enforcer Andy Smith – forced off with cramp 14 minutes into the second half – will be fit to line out in Galway’s keenly anticipated Leinster SHC semi-final replay against Kilkenny at O’Connor Park, Tullamore this Saturday (7pm).
With Smith’s preparation for the drawn game severely hampered by a knee injury suffered during his club’s opening round SHC win over Castlegar in late April, it was always going to be a big ask for the 30-year-old to last the 70 minutes.
However, Smith’s contribution in the centre of the park for 50 minutes was immense. He set the tone of Galway’s determined style of play while he also hurled a huge volume of ball. In all, he made 15 plays, including scoring a point and supplying the delivery for Niall Burke’s – and Galway’s – opening goal.
While Anthony Cunningham and his backroom staff of Eugene Cloonan and Damien Curley have an abundance of positives to work on from the 5-16 to 3-22 drawn encounter, a great deal of focus should be placed on their puck-out strategy this week.
Quite simply, when Galway were breaking even with their Kilkenny counterparts, they were extremely competitive and, indeed, it was no coincidence that when they were able to secure possession from Kilkenny’s restarts, that they seriously hurt the opposition.
By the same token, Galway will be aware that when Kilkenny dominated under the Westerners puck-out, particularly in that period when the Cats shot an unanswered 1-8, they struggled to maintain their foothold in the contest. If they are to succeed on Saturday, Galway cannot drop their intensity or concentration in this regard.
What supporters will be watching most for though in the run-up to this game will be the respective team selections. For Galway’s part, they have some big calls to make, especially in light of the stirring performances submitted by Jonathan Glynn and Joseph Cooney when introduced.
In this respect, David Burke and Cathal Mannion – both substituted last weekend – are vulnerable but, in saying that, the half hour will have stood to Mannion, who has been consistently good so far this year, while Burke could benefit more from a move to midfield or the half-back line to reignite his game.
At the any rate, the questions remain as to how many ‘big men’ will feature up front and can this be done at the expense of the blistering pace that has been the hallmark of Galway’s attack in the past. To this end, Portumna’s Damien Hayes and Mullagh’s Davy Glennon remain viable options.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.