Inside Track with John McIntyre
IT would take a smart man to predict with any certainty what to expect from Galway hurlers in Sunday’s Leinster championship quarter-final at Croke Park. Notoriously unreliable and inconsistent, the Tribesmen will be heading to GAA headquarters on the back of a disappointing National League campaign and little supporter confidence behind them.
Occasionally in the past, such a background has been no hindrance to Galway producing a swashbuckling performance, but with some untimely injuries also hampering their preparations, even team manager Anthony Cunningham can’t be sure what his charges will be capable of against a Dublin outfit which has shown significant signs of rejuvenation in 2015.
Little did we know that when Galway drew with Kilkenny in the 2012 All-Ireland final that Laois would be the only team to be beaten by them in the championship over the intervening period – and both of those victories were not without some shaky moments. It represents a spectacular fall in the space of little more than two and a half years and even the bookmakers, who have traditionally erred on the side of caution when pricing up Galway’s summer odds, have them outsiders against the Dubs.
Historically, there is no comfort to be drawn either from the teams’ previous five championship clashes, including the 2011 Leinster semi-final and the 2013 provincial decider, as Galway have yet to overcome Dublin, a surprising scenario but then the men in maroon have also never got the better of Waterford – two counties well down the All-Ireland hurling roll of honour. When it comes to Galway, the usual parameters do not apply.
The last time we saw them in championship action at bogey venue Thurles, Galway fans departed Semple Stadium in a state of utter bewilderment and dejection last July. With 20 minutes remaining, the Tribesmen led by six points but ended up being beaten by nine as Tipperary registered 2-10 in that period to a lone point in reply. Such a collapse had to be seen to be believed as Galway simply wilted when the pressure came on.
Nothing happened in this year’s National League to suggest that they have recovered mentally from that ignominious championship exit, losing three of their five outings and just avoiding a relegation play-off. In mitigation, Cunningham never had access to a full strength team and he won’t have on Sunday either as the unrelated Burkes: Niall, David and Daithi, are all sidelined as is Conor Cooney, arguably their best player in 2014.
Furthermore, Joe Canning is battling against a nasty hand injury which required 15 stitches after a recent challenge outing against Clare. The Portumna man is expected to play, but the injury is in a tender place between his fingers and could potentially restrict his influence. On the plus side, Cyril Donnellan has recovered from a protracted groin injury and his energy alone will be welcome in the open confines of Croke Park as Galway look set to unveil a new central defensive partnership in debutant John Hanbury and Iarla Tannian.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
