GAELIC GAMES - Leinster SHC Semi-final:IT'S IRRELEVANT, of course, to even suggest Galway have yet to beat Dublin in the hurling championship, although if there was a good time to put that record to the test then Saturday evening in Tullamore could be it.
Three years after switching their hurling allegiance to Leinster, Galway face Dublin for the first time in their adopted province. The counties have met twice in the distant past, with Dublin victorious in both their 1941 All-Ireland semi-final (2-4 to 2-2), and also their 1924 All-Ireland final (5-3 to 2-6) – but that era is long since history.
In more recent times Galway would unquestionably have started as heavy favourites, and yet Saturday’s semi-final in Tullamore is hard to call. Galway will start as marginal favourites – and no one would be surprised if Dublin progress to meet Kilkenny in the Leinster final. It could go either way.
The formbook backs up the close call: Dublin’s brilliant display in the league final win over Kilkenny wasn’t exactly reproduced in their quarter-final victory over Offaly, while Galway had an even greater struggle against Westmeath in their opening game.
The score is also one-one this season, as Dublin beat Galway in the Walsh Cup, while Galway beat Dublin in the league – a game defined by Galway’s late goal, and the 19 wides for Dublin.
“There are a lot of inconsistencies in our performance,” says Galway midfielder David Burke, although he’s actually been one of their most consistent players this season.
“We’re still trying to get it right. We’re starting slow and we’re finishing slow, so it’s kind of in the middle part of the game we’re going well.
“We had one downer, against Tipperary in the league where we stalled altogether, but we’re trying to start well, get our game up to scratch, and finish the last 10 minutes strongly. Keep up above 90 percent all across the game, instead of going up and down the whole time.”
Burke was called up from the under-21 panel last season, and made an immediate impact at midfield: he usually chips in a score or two, including long range frees (he hit 0-3 against Westmeath) and maintains the high work rate throughout: “I suppose I did alright last year.
“This year, I played nearly every match in the league, and compared to last year I wouldn’t have played so many, so I was coming into the championship a bit fresh. It can be hard to keep the level of stamina going, keep the intensity in the game.”
Burke in fact delayed his graduation to the senior ranks, when first called upon two seasons ago – mirroring the similar decision of Joe Canning – and reckons that has helped ease the transition: “Definitely. If I had gone straight in (to senior) I’d be sick of hurling at this stage. It depends on the player though.
“James “Cha” Fitzpatrick was only 19 and he came in and played in an All-Ireland final. If the lads are hurling for their club senior team when they’re 16, 17 years of age it can put a lot of pressure on them coming into the senior then when they’re 19, so that’s why they often take a break.”
What Burke is certain of is that Galway’s exodus to Leinster hurling has been a good thing: the three-year “experiment” is now certain to be extended indefinitely, although there is still some debate about whether or not the Galway underage teams would also benefit from the move, and whether Galway should be entitled to the occasional home game.
“I think the Leinster championship is taking more emphasis this year over the Munster. Years ago you’d see ads on television for the Munster campaign. There’s all the talk about Dublin now.
“I know Tipperary against Cork was a classic game, it’s always been down through the years, but I can see Leinster being way better than the Munster championship this year.
“And winning a Leinster title would get you straight to the All-Ireland semi-final, and I see that as a huge bonus. I can’t see why some teams see it as, ‘only a provincial title’. Winning it is a huge achievement, and you’re in an All-Ireland semi-final straight way. The less games the better.”
Less games isn’t necessarily better for the Galway minor and under-21s, who remain without a proper provincial competition: “It’s hard to know at minor level,” says Burke, “especially when you’re doing exams. Some people in Galway say they’re better off getting to an All-Ireland quarter-final.
“It probably would be better in the long term for hurling, but at the moment I can see Galway doing well at under-21 and minor the way it is.
“They won a lot of minors and under-21s, so I can see it working both ways.”
For now, however, the Galway seniors have it their way, exactly what they wanted: a good, hard competitive provincial semi-final, with Kilkenny lying in wait – and the added incentive of seeking a first championship win over Dublin.
