Galway manager Anthony Cunningham knows his side was well beaten in Sunday’s Leinster final, but in defeat a management team and players sometimes learn more than in victory.
Certainly that is what the hurling supporters in the county will be hoping. With Tipperary gone, and Kilkenny not the team it was, there is still a streak of optimism. If Galway can get their house in order, they might be there or thereabouts. Maybe they were not as focussed as they should have been facing Dublin, and if they can get over the quarter-final fence on July 28, who knows how the dice would roll then.
Cunningham was heartfelt and genuine in his praise for the victors.
“Our congratulations to Dublin. The better team won on the day. It took us a good while to get going. We were a bit late to the breaking ball there in the middle third. We were a bit off it.
“We came back well and would be happy with a lot of aspects of our play in the second half, but we still have a lot to work on. We have a bit of catching up to do on Dublin, but we’re not out of the championship yet.”
Against Laois and Dublin, Galway had bad periods, and last Sunday they did demonstrate a refusal to accept their lot in a thrilling second half.
They found their rhythm for a while in that second half and hit two goals, both spectacular efforts from Joe Canning and David Burke. And they also had chances of another one or two, which would have changed the complexion of the game massively.
“That’s the championship,” said Cunningham, who was tasting championship defeat as senior manager for just the second time. “We were in very hard luck for one or two decisions after that, but it ebbs and flows.
“The tempo of the game at that stage was what we had wanted at the very start. Knowing that we can get to there is very good for us, but we have got to deliver on that as well.
“We are still looking forward to our next day out in the championship. As we reminded Dublin there after congratulating them, we are still only one step behind them now, and it is do-or-die the next day.”
