Galway to get nothing soft against Tipp

Date Published: 17-Apr-2008

WE have been here before — eight times in fact, ensuring a National Hurling League final between Galway and Tipperary is nothing new.

Yet, there is a fresh appeal about Sunday’s showdown at the Gaelic Grounds (4.15pm) if largely because for only the second time in seven years Kilkenny won’t be hanging around the place.

On the formbook alone, there is nothing between these neighbouring teams, but Galway have still been burdened with the mantle of strong favourites. Certainly, the statistics are in their favour as five of the county’s eight previous National League triumphs — including a 4-5 to 4-4 win in Portumna in 1931 — came when Tipperary were in the opposition corner.

Furthermore, there is the Loughnane factor. Hurling observers still hold him in high regard despite last season’s fumbles, controversies and disappointments. He tried to foist the successful Clare template — commando type training, dummy team selections and a confrontational motivational environment — on Galway’s preparations. It didn’t work.

Clare were blessed with big men who performed with an unrelenting intensity during their glory years; Galway are largely about touch and pace. Going down the physical road was not in the squad’s best interests. Despite an honourable loss to Kilkenny in last year’s All-Ireland semifinal, a fair percentage of local fans began to wonder if Loughnane was the right man for the job.

Those concerns no longer exist. Apart from a careless display against Offaly in Tullamore, Galway have ……………..