After a morale-boosting 2-19 to 1-19 victory over Kilkenny last Sunday, the Galway senior hurlers face another stiff Division 1A assignment this Saturday evening when they welcome the reigning All-Ireland champions into their back yard as Brian Lohan’s Clare make the short trip north for a 7.30pm throw-in at Pearse Stadium.
Two Declan McLoughlin goals helped power Galway to victory last weekend, as they quickly and impressively put the capitulation against Tipperary to one side. Ten changes to the starting line up signalled Micheál Donoghue’s intent, with Padraic Mannion, Gavin Lee, and Conor Cooney amongst those drafted in, but the improvement in work rate and intensity all over the field was most noteworthy.
Lee in particular put in an eye-catching display at centre half-back as Galway surged clear in the second half and led at one stage by eight points. Unsurprisingly though, a proud Kilkenny team roared back, with Eoin Cody’s major capping a seven score run that gave Derek Lyng’s men a one-point lead with eight minutes to play.
Galway’s response was admirable, though, as substitute Jason Flynn fired over three consecutive frees before Conor Whelan’s majestic score from the right side line sealed the win. A notable element of Galway’s performance was the quality of their scores from distance as the half-back line and midfield chipped in with nine points.
Settling on a solid yet dynamic central spine of the team will be a key part of Micheál Donoghue’s thinking throughout this league campaign and Cianan Fahy and Tom Monaghan formed the midfield pairing for the second successive week. Where Daithí Burke fits into the mix remains to be seen, but it could yet be a return to wing-back where the Turloughmore man won the first of his All-Stars a decade ago.
After Saturday’s game under the lights in front of what should be a bumper crowd, Galway face into a gruelling run of six away trips before they take on Wexford in early May in round three of the Leinster championship back in Salthill. Clare had a week off after losing their opening round fixture at home to Kilkenny, so they will be eager to get points on the board.
Clare manager Lohan went with a somewhat inexperienced side on their first day out, with only five of the All-Ireland winning side involved, and probably more worrying than the final outcome was the loss of David McInerney to a hamstring injury while Conor Leen was also withdrawn.
Clare’s last league visit to Salthill in 2022 saw them lose by two points in a dead-rubber game in which Conor Cooney and Tony Kelly were joint top scorers. Whether the Pearse Stadium playing surface will have improved enough to allow for a top quality contest remains to be seen, but these neighbours will surely offer up compelling fare no matter the conditions.
