Hurlers fly out of traps in National Hurling League

Galway team manager Anthony Cunningham has insisted his charges will not be getting carried away following the Tribesmen’s impressive 13-point defeat of Leinster champions Dublin in Sunday’s opening round of the National League at Pearse Stadium.

While delighted with the victory, which has propelled them to the top of Division 1A on scoring difference after the opening weekend of action, Cunningham believed Dublin just had an off-day while everything Galway touched turned to gold.

“Look, it was a day that everything we struck went over the bar and Dublin were perhaps a bit off colour in parts and that definitely won’t be the way next July or August when you meet them. It’s great for us but it’s only a platform. We’re building and that’s the main thing. Our next focus is Waterford next Sunday.”

That said, the Galway boss was surprised by Dublin’s lacklustre display. “To be honest, I saw them playing against Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final and I thought they played quite well. But, you know, you just get days like that in the league; it has happened to us before over the past few years.

“I suppose, after last year (defeat in Leinster final), we would have concentrated on this match over the Winter. There was a lot of hurt there but, then, there’s also a lot of new guys coming in, so it’s positive. We can build on it. We’re around longer than that though to get carried away with the win but it is good for confidence.”

Indeed, Cunningham agreed there were a great deal of positives to be taken from the game, most notably the performances of the six debutantes – including full-back Ronan Burke – and Iarla Tannian’s commanding display at centre-half back.

“They’re positions (No. 3 & 6) that Galway have struggled in for the last few years. We’ll be trying different parts of our game as we go on in the league matches and there’ll be more tests in our face.

“We play Waterford next weekend. They probably should have won against Tipperary. They were very good early on in that match. That’s our big focus now, to get prepared for that match next weekend.”