Galway braced for ‘dogfight’ against Clare in key battle

Date Published: 07-Mar-2013

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY manager Anthony Cunningham says his side can expect “a dogfight” when they travel across the border to face fierce rivals Clare in their second round National Hurling League fixture at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday (2pm).

With Clare – back in the top flight of league hurling after a three-year absence – narrowly defeated by Waterford in their first round clash in Ennis, they will be looking to secure some valuable points if they are to avoid the drop back down to Division 1B this season.

Indeed, a joust against their near neighbours in what promises to be a pulsating derby fixture not only gives Davy Fitzgerald’s charges ample opportunity to record a victory, but it also could light the fuse on what they hope will be another season of much promise.

Certainly, Fitzgerald and Clare laid a solid foundation in 2012 by winning promotion from Division 1B before rattling Kilkenny in the National League semi-final. Although the Banner men were subsequently overturned by Waterford in the Munster championship, they did show a great deal of mettle when accounting for Dublin on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-16 in the qualifiers.

That said, they were no doubt disappointed to lose their next game against Limerick – who they had beaten twice already in the league earlier in the year – as that defeat cost them a crack at Kilkenny, once again, in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Still, the building blocks had been positioned and further signs of improvement were to be seen when Clare defeated Tipperary by 1-21 to 1-13 in the Waterford Crystal Cup final last month – Colin Ryan (0-9, eight from placed balls) and Tony Kelly (0-5) both contributing handsomely in the win.

On the back of that, Clare were strongly fancied to overcome a Waterford side, shorn of the service of the retired John Mullane, in their opening NHL game in Ennis but the concession of two first half goals to Seamus Prendergast and Jake Dillon left them chasing a result.

Given that Clare would have been targeting their home games, in particular, against Waterford and Galway – their only other is against Kilkenny – in a bid to ensure survival, that opening day loss has to be viewed as a bitter blow.

Consequently, this is a must win fixture for Clare this weekend. “Absolutely,” recognises Galway boss Cunningham. “They were beaten at home in their first match so they are going to come out all guns blazing and it is going to be one hell of a dogfight, to be honest with you.

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