No shadow boxing for Galway hurlers against Limerick

AS Galway senior hurlers head to the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday (3pm) for a National League showdown against Limerick, selector Francis Forde has admitted the Tribesmen are keen to win this one if only to alleviate some of the hurt of their surprise early season defeat to Wexford.

With Galway, Limerick and Wexford looking a class apart from everyone else in Division 1B, stern tests of credentials have been few and far between. Consequently, it has been grating on the Tribesmen that they have already flunked one of the two examinations they had to face in this division.

“Yeah, apart from anything else, we weren’t happy with the Wexford result,” said Forde. “Elements of the performance were good – we got ourselves into a winning position twice – so we would be disappointed with the fact that we let that slip. I suppose, you have to look at yourself first as a management and then you look at the players.

“Yes, we were disappointed as a management but there was no one more disappointed than the players. We have had a good chat about it over the last few weeks and we said we have to move on. And part of moving on is getting a result against Limerick to be honest with you.

This is the first time since that we have met one of the top teams. So, we are looking for a bit of redemption on that score. That is a fair enough objective,” he stated.

It arguably didn’t help that this Sunday’s game was billed at the outset of the National League as the promotion-decider – much to the annoyance of a highly-motivated Wexford who recorded victories over both to steal top spot. At any rate, this final group fixture has now been reduced to a jostle for position on the Division 1B league table.

On any other year, with promotion out of reach, it would be immaterial where Galway or Limerick finish on the league table – both have already qualified for the quarter-finals – but if one is to believe the whispers, this is not the case this time round.

Due to the lop-sided nature of Division 1B – Galway, Wexford and Limerick have by and large savaged the rest of the field – it has been rumoured that a restructuring of the National League could now possibly take place with the top two teams from Division 1B to be absorbed into a new Division 1.

Forde was not convinced. “Firstly, from my own point of view, that is not a factor. The bottom line is we want to win the game. There is no question about that. I think what is being said (about the top two finish) is a bit of loose talk really – going back to eight. I don’t see it happening.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.