There are plenty of talking points to digest ahead of the Galway senior hurlers' eagerly anticipated clash with Dublin this Sunday in Parnell Park (throw-in 2pm ), but the fact that it is a Leinster championship semi-final in all but name will make this contest compelling viewing.
Galway have hopefully put their opening round woes well and truly in the rear-view mirror, with a facile 6-27 to 1-14 win over Antrim last Saturday cementing their place in the All-Ireland phase of the season with a game to spare.
Antrim’s well-publicised injury woes were compounded by the sending off of Declan McCloskey before half time, but Galway had already taken control of proceedings despite the late precautionary withdrawal of Cathal Mannion from the matchday panel.
Tom Monaghan hit six points from play as Galway overpowered their opponents in every sector, with Anthony Burns and Brian Concannon bagging a brace of goals apiece while Kevin Cooney and Declan McLoughlin also hit the net.
The margin of victory now means Galway have the advantage on scoring difference should this contest finish in a draw, which is a far from inconceivable outcome given their games have finished level twice since the Tribesmen’s participation in Leinster began (2015 quarter final, 2023 group stage ).
The inside track that the Galway management team of Micheal Donoghue, Franny Forde, and Noel Larkin must have on the Dublin panel - having managed the group for two seasons - adds another layer of intrigue to the occasion.
Conversely, Dublin will feel they know plenty about the intricacies of Donoghue’s preferred tactics.
Dublin are keen to project Parnell Park as a fortress and they have only lost one home fixture in league or championship this season, ironically when their game against Offaly was moved to Croke Park, a loss which ultimately cost them promotion.
New Dublin boss Niall Ó Ceallacháin is a shrewd operator, having guided his own club Na Fianna to their first ever senior county title before repeating the trick in 2024 and then crowning it off with an emphatic All-Ireland club title win this year.
Faced with a fourteen-point deficit last Sunday afternoon in Nowlan Park against Kilkenny, having conceded four highly preventable first half goals, Dublin showed great resolve to work their way back into the contest thanks two goals in as many minutes from Sean Currie (his second ) and Cian O’Sullivan.
Dublin had the margin reduced to just two points with a couple of minutes left to play, but a late Billy Ryan rasper settled the game in Derek Lyng’s side’s favour. O’Sullivan was joint top scorer from play with 1-5, while Conor Donohue showcased his shooting prowess from midfield by sniping four points.
Galway will be sharply aware that the challenge ahead of them is their sternest test since facing Kilkenny, but the carrot of a Leinster final appearance is a massive one.
Nine of the current panel were involved in the season-ending loss in 2019 that precipitated Donoghue’s departure and will be keen to avoid another reversal.
