Galway supremo relishing taking on the best

By Eanna O’Reilly

AHEAD of Henry Shefflin’s toughest assignment as Galway senior hurling team manager, the Ballyhale man was in no doubt about the scale of the task facing his side as they attempt to dethrone the defending champions.

Nevertheless, the ten-time Celtic Cross winner was looking forward to the occasion and having the opportunity to pit his team against the current standard bearers of the game.

In assessing Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final challenge, Shefflin identified his thoughts from the time of his announcement as Galway’s manager as a relevant reference point.

‘‘I was just looking back on when we were announced as the new management team, myself and Richie (O’Neill), on October 20 [last year]. I said in a statement that it was a unique opportunity and a unique challenge. Do you know what? based on today, I think it’s fairly apt.

“It’s a unique challenge because we’re facing a team going for three in-a-row, they’re going to be raging hot favourites. But it’s a unique opportunity for us to go in with no major pressure and have an opportunity to face up to the best. That’s what you want to do as players and as a management team – you want to challenge yourself. That’s what we’re going to get against Limerick.’’

Having won three of the last four All-Irelands, as well as preserving a long unbeaten championship record, the Shannonsiders are widely tipped to continue their successful run ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final. Given the quality of players in John Kiely’s group, as well as their big-match record in recent years, Shefflin is not surprised to see Limerick enter the tie as 1/4 favourites.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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