Harte to miss replay with Offaly

Date Published: 23-Jun-2010

STEPHEN GLENNON

IT’S all hands to the pump in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday evening (7pm) as National League winners Galway attempt to jumpstart their championship season after 14-man Offaly all but pulled the spark plugs on the Tribesmen’s juggernaut in a fascinating joust last weekend.

Out for the intriguing Leinster senior hurling semi-final replay is Gort’s Aidan Harte, whose recent hip injury flared up in the drawn game at Croke Park. Portumna trio Ollie Canning (hamstring), Damien Hayes (knee) and Joe Canning (hand) are also injury concerns, although manager John McIntyre is optimistic that they will recover sufficiently to take their respective places in the Galway line-up.

However, due to injuries, the Galway mentors – who will have the previously suspended Andy Smith available to them again – will not be naming their starting XV until close to the game, bu they are sure to think long and hard on their selection for this vital fixture.

But McIntyre says they are reluctant to press the panic button by wringing the changes just yet, particularly given this side has only lost one competitive outing so far this year.“Our standards just dropped last Sunday,” explains the Galway boss. “I think there was too much loose talk about how much Galway was going to win by going into the Offaly game and, as we have seen, championship hurling is a great leveller. I believe we will improve and remaining loyal to those players who have only lost one competitive game so far in 2010 is a strong option.”

That was to Tipperary in the National League, but, as already noted, there is a fair old gulf between league and championship hurling. So, whatever about a change in personnel, there certainly needs to be adjustments in attitude and application.

The intensity levels have to be raised a decimal or two.In many respects, the lack of ‘cut and thrust’ was the most disappointing facet of Galway’s play last Sunday and the frustration among supporters in this regard afterwards was palpable. However, what we all failed to grasp beforehand was that there is a major difference between playing Offaly in a Leinster championship game – in THEIR provincial series – than facing them in a league or qualifier tie.

Indeed, was it not for games such as these that Galway entered the Leinster championship? Surely, not for the 10 or 15-point cake-walk that the majority expected to take place at Croke Park on Sunday. Quite, simply, at long last, the Tribesmen are involved in a meaningful provincial championship, where succinct questions are asked.

It is a learning environment – one Galway hurling can benefit enormously from.McIntyre recognises this, and he explains that was why no strips were torn off the Croke Park walls in the aftermath of the drawn game. “Nobody blew a gasket in the Galway dressing room after the game,” says McIntyre.

“It was calm and it was rational, although we were naturally disappointed with the result and with our performance. Galway are better than what they showed last Sunday. Our cards have been marked now, though, so it is up to us to heed the lessons.

“Obviously, Offaly are a team moving in the right direction and Portlaoise will be something of a home venue for them on Saturday evening. So, we are not going to talk our way out of trouble on this one; we are going to have to hurl our way out. And that is the challenge facing the players in Portlaoise. It is not going to be easy and we are going to have to bring our ‘A’ game to the replay. Tactically, we have work to do as well,” he concludes.

For their part, Offaly look set to be without imposing wing-forward Derek Molloy, who had to retire from the drawn game at half-time with an ankle injury. Of course, they will also be without his replacement Daniel Currams, following his sending off against Galway, although manager Joe Dooley has indicated that they will be appealing this decision.

Defenders David Franks and James Rigney are other injury concerns.Amazingly, some bookmakers have priced Galway as 1/10 on favourites to win next Saturday, with the Faithful County again treated as rank outsiders at 7/1. No doubt, more fuel for the Offaly fire, but one suspects Galway will not be fooled by the bookies assessments on this occasion. Hoses at the ready.