Galway team manager Micheál Donoghue is expecting his team to produce a strong positive performance when they take on Westmeath in Mullingar this Sunday [3.30pm].
“We only have the lads in with us fully for the past two weeks as they have been focusing on the club championship, however the mood in the camp is good and the lads are looking forward to the game on Sunday.”
This weekend will be Donoghue’s first championship game in charge since taking over from Anthony Cunningham last autumn and he is looking forward to the upcoming championship season.
“All the management team are enjoying our first year and we are looking forward to starting off on Sunday in the Leinster championship. We are not taking Westmeath lightly at all and we have total respect for them. They have had three round-robin games already in May and those championship games are fantastic preparation for them for this weekend. We know that unless we show up and play a really good solid game and produce a very good performance we will find ourselves in difficultly.”
Thankfully Galway do not have any new injury worries.
Cyril Donnellan had a pin removed recently and David Collins is struggling a bit with a hamstring injury and Sunday will come a bit too soon for them, however everyone else came through the few club championship games intact.
Both Johnny Glynn [New York] and Gort’s Greg Lally [cruciate] are big losses for the summer. However other players will just have to step up and take on leadership roles on the field of play and within the panel.
Donoghue knows that a win on Sunday is vital to get Galway’s championship season up and running.
“Whichever team wins on Sunday will have two weeks to prepare for the Leinster semi-final against either Laois or Offaly [June 19] and that is what we are targeting. We are expecting a really good game with Westmeath, however, if we play to what we are capable of, we are confident we can get out of Mullingar with a win and a chance to play in a Leinster semi-final.”
Galway are expected to announce their starting 15 for the game on Friday evening.
