Galway's progression to the All-Ireland semi-final is being viewed from within the team as a breakthrough not just for hurling in the county, but for hurling in general. In beating Tipperary in Croke Park on Sunday they have set up a meeting with Kilkenny, and are just one stop short of breaking the recent stranglehold on All-Ireland finals.
The westward journey home on Sunday evening was made all the more enjoyable for bringing them back into the arms of the doubters. Galway captain and goalkeeper Liam Donoghue yesterday described that homecoming as the chance for all the team to tread lightly on recent criticisms.
"The mood in Galway was so negative for the last couple of weeks, for the whole year really. So there were a lot of people going around on Sunday night biting their lips. The important thing is it has given the county a big boost in hurling terms. We were totally written off last year after the Kilkenny match, with people saying we were terrible. We never thought we were that bad.
"But I also think hurling needed a result like Sunday. And I think it needs a Galway or a Clare to reach the final. We've had Kilkenny and Cork on the top now for a few years, and I think it needs a new winner. So we'll definitely keep doing our best to change that."
But Donoghue also insisted they didn't beat Tipperary by accident. Manager Conor Hayes knew certain things would have to change this year if Galway were to be genuine contenders. And that meant changes on the sideline too. So Hayes added Séamus Coen and Seán Silke to the backroom team in an effort to strengthen the mental foundations of the team as much as anything physical.
"They've been great additions for sure," added O'Donoghue. "They've been so positive all along, and just preaching great encouragement all year. It just became contagious. Every one of us bought into it. When you keep listening to someone praising you the whole time you actually do start believing in yourself a little more, and start taking some confidence from it.
"To be honest we weren't too disappointed at half-time. We had hit something like 10 wides after 20 minutes. We were also creating goal chances, and I genuinely believed we'd take one or two of them before the end. I never thought for one second that we'd lose.
"Obviously Damien Hayes' goal was a big turning point. But it was definitely a collective thing. Galway hadn't had a big win since 2001, and we needed that so badly. We just wanted to prove that we weren't as bad as people were saying we were, even in Galway. I believe this team has great character and I wasn't surprised at all that they pulled out the result in the end."
Galway had the added bonus on Sunday of being able to enjoy the second quarter-final, knowing they would be facing either Kilkenny or Limerick in three weeks' time. Donoghue joined his team-mates in the stands at Croke Park and in the end, they all realised that Kilkenny would still be Kilkenny, no matter how good or bad they looked against Limerick.
"I still think they're an awesome side, and still the class act. We know for sure we're going to be up against it again the next day. You can talk about holding Tommy Walsh or Henry Shefflin but they've the likes of Martin Comerford and Eddie Brennan right behind them. They've just so many options.
"So there's absolutely no chance of us believing Kilkenny are a team in decline. We're happy with the progress we've made, but to beat Kilkenny will be another huge step up for us. I don't think the first 40 minutes on Sunday was exactly championship stuff. We were poor, and Tipp probably thought they had the game in the bag. The last 20 minutes definitely got a bit more physical and looked more like championship hurling."
The first All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Clare in two weeks' time will be preceded by the Christy Ring Cup final between Down and Westmeath. Following Antrim's relegation from the Liam McCarthy Cup competition last Saturday, Down will now be fighting to give Ulster some representation in next year's championship.
