Struggling Galway face must-win National League encounter against Tipperary

RAHOON/Newcastle defender John Hanbury could make a return to Galway senior hurlers’ starting line-out for their pivotal National Hurling League clash against Tipperary at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

Both a depleted Galway and Tipperary desperately need the league points after only securing one National League win apiece in the current campaign – each of those wins secured against Cork and Dublin respectively on the opening weekend.

Since then, Galway have fallen to Dublin and Kilkenny while Tipperary have come out on the wrong side of results against kingpins Kilkenny and reigning National League champions Waterford.

Consequently, this is a must-win fixture for both sides as they look to move away from the relegation zone but the Tribesmen do have an added incentive. Should they secure victory in this one, they will then have accounted for the two teams at the foot of the table.

That could be the difference between Galway qualifying for a National League quarter-final or facing into a relegation battle at the beginning of April. In any event, Galway must up the ante from their two previous league outings if they are to progress in the competition.

This was not lost on manager Michéal Donoghue after he watched his side slump to defeat against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park last Sunday. Galway’s display in the opening half of that game was woeful and when Kilkenny extended their advantage by double scores – 0-16 to 0-8 – in the second half, it looked as if the visitors could be in for a trimming.

However, a 56th minute Paul Hoban goal punctuated a fightback that saw them close the gap to a single point with just minutes to play before Brian Cody’s men steadied the ship with points from Colin Fennelly, TJ Reid (2) and Richie Hogan late on to record a 0-21 to 1-14 victory.

“Look it, it was a strange game. As you say, we were disappointed with the first half performance. Just for ourselves after the Dublin game, we were looking for a bit of a response and I thought the first half we started okay and then went a bit flat,” began Donoghue, who will be very familiar with this weekend’s opponents after serving on former Tipp manager Eamon O’Shea’s backroom team.

“But credit to the lads in the second half, I thought they worked for each other which is hugely important for the group and if we had pushed on those periods when we were on top in the second half, we had a chance of winning the game.

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