Harte named at centre back as Galway aim for home win against the Cats

GORT captain Greg Lally has been named at centre-half back in the Galway team to face All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (2pm) – a NHL tie considered by boss Anthony Cunningham as hugely significant in their bid to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Lally, who was exceptional in Gort’s county championship run and again in their All-Ireland club semi-final joust against Ballyhale, comes into a reshuffled pack which sees David Collins move to wing-back, Iarla Tannian relocated to midfield, where he won an All-Star, and Andy Smith beefing up the half-forward line. Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s Padraig Breheny loses out on this occasion.

Cunningham says it is imperative Galway win their home games in the chase for a quarter-final berth and a fixture against the All-Ireland champions is no exception. “It is of huge significance and we would hope there will be a big Galway support there,” says the St. Thomas’ man.

“There is a good spirit there now and definitely there were a lot of positives from the Clare match and, indeed the match the last day, so we would be expecting a big, vocal support in Pearse Stadium, particularly against Kilkenny.”

Defender Fergal Moore, who missed the opening games against Clare and Tipperary due to a hamstring injury, is fit again but the management has kept faith in the full-back line of Johnny Coen, John Hanbury and Padraig Mannion.

For the most part, the trio were solid against Tipperary but they can ill afford the couple of lapses of concentration they had in the 2-18 to 0-20 defeat to Éamon O’Shea’s men. They must offer goalkeeper Colm Callanan more protection in this regard.

Midfielder Joseph Cooney, who has posted 1-3 from Galway’s opening two games, continues to be the in-form player. While his move to the inside line last day out might have given management pause for thought, it is recognised that his presence in the centre of the park in the early stages of this fixture will be crucial. It will be interesting to see both Cooney and Tannian working together in this sector.

Ardrahan’s Jonathan Glynn is growing into the centre-half forward role game by game but the notable lack of another physical presence on the flanks has been an issue. Both Breheny and Higgins are pacy stickmen but against a forceful team like the Cats, Galway had to add a warrior like Smith to their attack.

In the inside line, James Regan, Jason Flynn and Cathal Mannion have done enough in recent games to retain their positions and a substantial return will be required from them if the Tribesmen are going to do damage.

To date, the Cork and Dublin inside lines have posted 1-4 and seven points from play respectively against the Cats. That’s the target for Galway’s inside line. Also, when Galway score goals, they win games. Two against Clare; none against Tipperary.

Unfortunately, Joe Canning, Niall Burke and Conor Cooney all continue to be ruled out through injury. “It is unlikely Joe Canning will be back,” says Cunningham. “Of the rest of them – Conor Cooney, Niall Burke – it will be mid-March, so another couple of weeks.”

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