Galway men in fine fettle to set the record straight

EVERYWHERE we looked, Galway supporters were in a state of shock – struggling to comprehend the county’s earliest exit from the hurling championship since the summer of 1965.

It was the evening of Saturday, June 15, 2019, and a Galway team which had been crowned All-Ireland champions just 21 months earlier had fallen to a shock 3-19 to 0-24 defeat against Dublin at Parnell Park.

Losing to the Dubs was bad enough, but when word filtered through that Kilkenny and Wexford had drawn their round robin Leinster Championship tie on the same evening, it was only then that the real consequences of their defeat became apparent: Galway were out of the championship on scoring difference.

The disbelief among Galway players, mentors and supporters at this stunning turn of events was tangible. In contrast, everybody associated with Dublin hurling was overjoyed and celebrated accordingly.

Two Galway men had helped to plot their native county’s downfall that evening, and Greg Kennedy – no longer a selector – was regretting a great night for Dublin hurling had come with such severe repercussions for his home county.

The haunting memory of that evening in Donnycarney will probably be foremost in Galway’s thoughts as they renew rivalry with Dublin for the first time since in Saturday’s Leinster semi-final at Croke Park (2pm).

That alone will bring an automatic edge to Galway’s display, as should the shock defeat of the county U20s to Dublin in the provincial decider last week. Put it this way, there shouldn’t be a trace of complacency in their ranks ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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