Galway camp thrilled to be facing into first Leinster hurling final

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

NO one would ever describe French Canadian singer Celine Dion as an oracle. Yet, as her voice spirited from the well-worn CD over the PA system of O’Moore Park in the lead-up to this enthralling Leinster semi-final replay between Galway and Offaly, her high pitched vocals did carry a certain air of foreboding.

Well, Dion may not have been able to save the Titanic, or poor aul Jack, but 14-man Galway sure did have to plug a lot of holes in their bow, and negotiate extremely icy waters, to get out of Portlaoise with their provincial championship aspirations intact on Saturday evening. Simply, Offaly proved an obstinate iceberg.

In many respects, this was the sort of fare the people of Galway craved for many a year, having watched on as the likes of their rivals in Leinster and Munster enjoyed all the fun of intense provincial championship action with similar epic clashes.

For this was epic, and if the detractors bemoaning Galway’s inclusion into the Leinster championship were still looking for excuses by the end of this gripping drama, then they were clearly inhaling something other than oxygen last weekend. Even if, at times, oxygen was in short supply.

In truth, Galway have raised the bar in Leinster, bringing the best out of Wexford and Offaly. Granted, if they have the same effect on All-Ireland champions Kilkenny this Sunday … still, this is where Galway hurling needs to be.

“It is an absolutely super situation to be in,” says captain Shane Kavanagh following his side’s 3-17 to 2-18 victory over the Faithful County. “We have had three really tough games, and when you think about it, there were times in the past when we had just two games and we were out of the championship. We have three games played now and we can go into the Leinster final with no fear. It is a benchmark for us, to measure ourselves against Kilkenny.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.