Galway’s moment has arrived but only if they seize the day

Inside Track with John McIntyre

THE moment of truth is fast approaching for the Galway hurlers and for all their victories in 2017, including in the National League and Leinster finals, the players and management know those achievements would be dwarfed if the Tribesmen can get over the line in Sunday’s All-Ireland decider at Croke Park.

The fact that Waterford are in the opposition corner is something of a double-edged sword for Galway. On one hand, they have never beaten The Déise in the championship but, on the other, facing Kevin Moran and company still doesn’t carry the same level of baggage or intimidation factor as if they were crossing swords with Kilkenny.

In terms of overall quality and skill, Galway are undoubtedly the better equipped package. Their confidence and self-belief should also be sky high after an unbeaten six-match run since their Roy of the Rovers style comeback from a ten-point deficit in the National League quarter-final against Waterford at Pearse Stadium.

Galway also held their nerve in another pulsating All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary with Joe Canning’s brilliant injury-time winner ending the champions’ hopes of a successful defence of the Liam McCarthy Cup for the first time since 1965. Despite a ropey start and some difficult moments subsequently, the men in maroon didn’t falter when the pressure was at its greatest.

Against that background, Galway really have no excuses for not performing against Waterford. They also have serious momentum and are facing a team which still has something to prove at the highest level. In my view, Cork are a good bit behind Galway but yet their noses were in front in the All-Ireland semi-final when defender Damien Cahalane was dismissed.

Sure, Waterford went to town afterwards with Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson exploiting the extra space, but until Cork were reduced to 14 players, the outcome had been hard to call. The return of Tadgh de Burca to their rearguard for the final is an obvious lift, but Conor Gleeson’s suspension is a body blow.

Waterford won’t be fazed mentally that Galway are in the opposition corner given their dominance over the Westerners in the championship and they will have also learned to keep the hype at bay after the county lost the run of itself when last reaching the All-Ireland final in 2008. Kevin Moran and Brick Walsh played that day as did Eoin Murphy, who is now a selector.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.