Hurlers under the spotlight after upheavel off the field

Inside Track with John McIntyre

After the shadow boxing of the Walsh Cup in January, the real business is about to start and it remains to be seen how Galway shape up.

One thing for sure, the players are under serious pressure to perform on a consistent basis in 2016 after their unexpected revolt against last year’s management which ultimately forced the departure of Anthony Cunningham and his backroom team. The controversy dragged on for the guts of two months and polarised opinion in the county.

Though it was a courageous stand by the senior hurling panel to mutiny against the Galway management in the wake of reaching the All-Ireland final, they have now left themselves a hostage to fortune – just like the Mayo footballers – and unless the McCarthy Cup is heading back West at the end of the championship, the players’ stand will be largely perceived as having been unjustified.

Some supporters won’t be slow in reminding them of that either and it hardly makes for an ideal environment in which to be working in. Yet, we can’t lose sight of the general belief that Galway hurling teams lack the necessary bottle when games are in the melting pot, so for this group of players to have the balls to take such a united stand against Cunningham can be interpreted as a positive statement of intent in the context of the onfield challenges ahead.

Into all of this has stepped new manager Micheal Donoghue and, surely, with his eyes open. What happened before his appointment had nothing to do with him, but only for it the Clarinbridge clubman would not be managing Galway now. It’s hardly the best circumstances in which to take over, but Donoghue’s promotion has been well received, and in Francis Forde and Noel Larkin, he has two rock solid lieutenants supporting him.

Against this background, it is arguably more important than normal for Galway to have a progressive league campaign, so at least they will be heading for the championship on the front foot and, in the process, keeping the sideline snipers at bay. The appointment of David Burke as team captain has seen the new management quickly put their own imprimatur on things.

Burke is one of the best stickmen in the country and though injuries have disrupted his career somewhat over the past couple of seasons, his appointment as Galway skipper is a good one. He hails from a well respected GAA family and is a mature, likeable and genuine individual who carriers the respect of his team-mates.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.