Galway must raise their game for tough away test against Waterford

GALWAY manager Anthony Cunningham says little heed should be paid to the manner of the defeat to Dublin last weekend, insisting the Tribesmen’s focus has always been on the National Hurling League quarter-finals, which sees them pitted against Waterford at Walsh Park on Sunday (4pm).

The 0-26 to 2-14 loss to the Dubs at Parnell Park saw Galway finished fourth on the league table and, as a consequence, they must now travel to take on a rejuvenated Waterford outfit that finished top of the Division 1B pile after going unbeaten through their early Spring campaign.

However, despite the Westerners, who had already qualified for the knockout stages ahead of the final round of league games, coming into Sunday’s fixture on the back of a defeat, Cunningham is unperturbed. “I suppose, it was a difficult game for us really, knowing we were through,” he says.

“So, obviously the last 20 minutes was always going to be tough if the game was in the balance. Dublin had something to fight for – they were fighting for their lives – where we were through. We would have been disappointed with our finish though.”

While dissatisfied with Galway’s second half showing against the Dubs, who they will face in their Leinster championship opener later in the Summer, he still maintains it was a great workout ahead of the quarter-finals, particularly in giving game time to a number of players, including the solid Paul Killeen.

At any rate, it will be interesting to see what team selection Cunningham will announce later on in the week. Goalkeeper Colm Callanan and backs Johnny Coen, David Collins and Greg Lally will be favoured to backbone a defensive effort which could also see the return of centre-back Daithí Burke after his All-Ireland club football exertions with Corofin.

Iarla Tannian and Andy Smith look the likely midfield pairing although, arguably, Joseph Cooney’s best hurling in the league has been around the middle of the park. However, he will most likely be deployed to the half-forward line, joining Jonathan Glynn and, possibly, Joe Canning.

Canning, in truth, could play in any offensive position but even against Dublin you could see the distress he caused in the opposition cover when he set up camp on the D. His goal was a bullet. Jason Flynn and Cathal Mannion have been other scoring threats in the current league campaign.

As for Waterford, they have been impressive in the manner in which they went about their Division 1B crusade – not only in going undefeated in their five games but securing results in their three most difficult ties away to Limerick (0-22 to 2-16), Offaly (2-18 to 1-14) and Wexford (0-22 to 0-16).

Indeed, what manager Derek McGrath has achieved in rebuilding a new-look squad in effectively six months is quite remarkable. Stephen Molumphy, Seamus Prendergast and Shane Walsh have retired while a number of other players such as Liam Lawlor, Richie Foley and Jamie Nagle were let go.

The significant change of personnel has not had a detrimental effect however; if anything it has re-energised the Waterford squad. They still have their experienced campaigners in goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe, Kevin Moran and Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh but the likes of Austin Gleeson, Tadgh de Burca and Colin Dunford have added fresh impetus.

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