Galway hurlers off to flying start in league

Galway 0-28

Dublin   1-12

THE words ‘Swallow’ and ‘Summer’ were understandably being bandied about by a cautious Galway camp after their 13-point drubbing of Dublin in their opening National Hurling League game at Pearse Stadium but, behind it all, they had to take a lot of pleasure from this victory.

For one, it went someway to avenge their 2013 Leinster final humiliation at the hands of the same opposition – the Tribesmen repaying in kind – while, secondly, the win dispelled any doubts some had that Galway under manager Anthony Cunningham were a spent force.

Galway hurling needed this though because, regardless of what happens now over the coming League games, the Tribesmen had to show they still have performances like these in their locker. One swallow might not make a Summer but, at the very least, supporters will now feel they have a Summer to look forward to.

No doubt, this was a display that left you yearning for more and it will be interesting to see if Galway can maintain this momentum when they take the road to face Waterford down in Walsh Park this coming weekend. That is the challenge they currently must embrace. Last Sunday is done and dusted.

Everyone will take something different from this victory but what will not be lost on many is that Galway’s squad looks like it will have plenty of strength in depth for the season ahead. Six players made their debuts, with three – full-back Ronan Burke and forwards Cathal Mannion and Jason Flynn – starting.

What additions they were. As he had done in the Walsh Cup and inter-provincial game, defender Burke gave another impressive display while Mannion and Flynn contributed eight points between them – four apiece – from Galway’s 22 scores from play.

Indeed, every starting forward got their name on the scoresheet. The experienced Niall Healy tallied five points from play – and added another from a placed ball on 14 minutes – while Conor Cooney also hit six points, five from frees.

Full match report in this week’s Connacht Tribune