David Burke ready for fierce Banner effort

If there has been one thing impressive about the Galway hurlers this year, it has been their unshakeable commitment to maintain the high standards they set for themselves when landing a first Liam McCarthy Cup in almost three decades last September.

Those on the outside wondered over the Winter break if the Tribesmen would come back with the same insatiable hunger and driving ambition following a long overdue success, but captain David Burke insists there was never any doubt that they would in their own minds.

In any inter-county career – in the lifespan of any team – the window of opportunity is relatively small. These Galway players are determined to make the most of it. “Yeah, exactly. I mean, although we won last year, a lot of the squad felt when we came back in January that there was more in us. When we sat down and looked at it, we felt we had more to deliver on the pitch,” he confides.

There was also a general agreement that this could only be achieved with everyone pulling together because, just as in 2017, this would lay the foundation for any further success. “The hunger was there straight away, especially with the additional few [players] that was added into the squad.

“So, training was being pushed all the time and that is massive. If you don’t have that, you will lose that bit of an edge going into the matches. Probably, we took a bit of a backwards step in the league and got caught by Limerick and Wexford towards the end of it but I think we made up a good bit of ground between then and the start of the championship and we got back to where we left off last year.

“We know though that every year is different and we have to play Clare now. It has been 2016 since we last met so it will be an interesting game but hopefully one we can get over,” remarks the All-Ireland winning captain.

No doubt, the landscape for the Galway senior hurlers is a changed one in 2018. The sense of expectation this year – unlike other years perhaps – is justified given what they have done and are doing on the field of play. Burke admits he has sensed the shift but notes they haven’t shied away from it either.

“I suppose, last year, we were so long waiting and it was relief more than anything else. It was all about getting the job done. This year now, all the talk around is of us being favourites but we can’t control or do anything about the talk around. Everyone thinks that we are favourites and all we have to do is go out and do it again, but it is hard.”
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