Ex-great Lane has big hopes for men of the West

THERE’S one word and one principle that three times All-Ireland winner, Noel Lane, keeps on harking back to when it comes to Galway hurling and that’s consistency.

Like everyone following the great dream of Galway hurling – namely to win a fourth All-Ireland title – he has seen his beloved county deliver virtuoso performances, only to be followed a couple of weeks later by a flat one.

Lane – a skilful and snipey corner forward in the 1980 All-Ireland breakthrough team, who could also ‘look after himself’ with tough corner backs, – then came on in both the 1987 and 1988 deciders to score the winning goals against Kilkenny and Tipperary.

There is no doubt in Lane’s mind that the Galway hurling team of 2017 has the skill, the fitness levels and the physicality to win the All-Ireland. So, is there an ‘X factor’ that has to be added into the mix.

“No, there is no mystery. There is no long grass. Galway are here to win . . . there is no hiding place . . . and we don’t need one either.

“What people write or say should not matter to the management and squad. It’s what goes on inside the camp in Athenry that counts.

“It has to be ferocious . . . fighting like tigers . . . but still learning to be best friends, like one big family. Not easy to achieve but that’s what it takes.

“Look at Connacht rugby last year under Pat Lam when they conclusively proved that the collective was much greater than the sum of the parts,” said Lane.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.