Galway head for Waterford on brink of relegation play-off with Cork

Galway senior hurling manager Michéal Donoghue has acknowledged his charges need to get out of the blocks quicker in their National League games and has admitted that will be one of the primary objectives they will be setting themselves for their showdown with Waterford at Walsh Park this Sunday (2pm).

Slow starts against Kilkenny and Tipperary have left the Tribesmen chasing the game in recent fixtures and Donoghue acknowledged this is an area they have to improve on – not only in terms of performances, but also results.

“We were saying at half-time, and over the last few weeks, we are not starting in any of the games. We are working really hard on that with the lads and it is something we have to work on for the future,” conceded Donoghue in his post-match interview following the Tipp clash.

“It has (been hurting us) but we can’t fault the players’ attitude and application and it is just something we are working towards and it something we have identified collectively. We are working together on it and hopefully it will get better going forward.”

Quite simply, it has to. With Cork languishing at the bottom of the table, the Leesiders have at least time to come to terms with a relegation battle. On the other hand, Galway must, at the very least, get a result against Waterford this Sunday and hope Tipperary, who have a superior scoring difference (+13), falter against their Munster rivals.

“They (Tipp) have a strong scoring difference but, look, Cork performed really well against Kilkenny (last weekend). It is probably a free game for them in that they can go out and perform. Cork are a quality side as well.

“I have been saying it all through the league. Division 1 is really competitive. All the games are going to be competitive and I have no doubt the last round will be also,” added the Clarinbridge native.

Sunday’s fixture is an interesting one. Reigning National League champions Waterford lost to Dublin at home last weekend and, incredibly, that was their first defeat in 11 in the competition in almost two years. They will be smarting.

Whatever about Waterford, the trip down south certainly holds significance for the Galway team on Sunday. When the sides met in the National League quarter-final last year, Galway suffered a 0-20 to 0-12 loss following a somewhat disjointed performance.

It is believed it was at this point the relationship between then manager Anthony Cunningham and the players began to head down the road it did. Given the background, this fixture in one way places the Galway players under scrutiny – even more so than the Kilkenny clash.

Consequently, this game is as much a test of the players’ state of mind and their mental fortitude as it will be of their hurling competence and their ability to break down a compact defensive structure, something they have grappled with in the past. Those are the challenges they will have to embrace.

Along with, of course, getting to the pitch of the battle from the off.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.