The Galway hurlers take on Jimmy Barry Murphy’s Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (12.45pm ) in an attractive double header with the Cork and Kerry footballers (2.30pm ).
Galway, due to select ast night, have no fresh injury worries. Andy Smith and Kevin Hynes, back to full training, are available for selection.
Team selector Tom Helebert expects a different challenge to the one they faced in Thurles.
“Cork are very good at playing possession hurling and in Donal Óg [Cusack] they have a goalkeeper who is very good at finding his teammates out the field. They are a patient side and we will have to be very aware of the way they can find their men. They had a good win last weekend over Dublin and we will have to do an awful lot of things right to get a victory.”
After pushing Tipperary all the way last Sunday and collecting the points against Dublin, Helebert is pleased with the panel’s application.
“In our two league games to date our work-rate and application has been very encouraging. We may have lacked a bit of composure at times when we were in possession against Tipperary, but we hope that will improve with experience. We have a very young and inexperienced side compared to Tipp and Kilkenny and it will take time to get everything right. But the mood in our camp is top class and all the lads are working really hard and doing the right things.”
Galway beat Cork comprehensively in the championship last July, but much has changed. With only two points on the board, Galway will be targeting the win or they could find themselves in relegation trouble.
“If we play to the top of our game and keep mistakes to a minimum, we will be there or thereabouts. The work-rate and intensity of our game has been improving and we hope to see it continue to do so this weekend,” says Helebert.
Galway are 11/10 to win.
