GALWAY
Related Articles
Thursday February 18 2010
Date: Sunday, April 18, at 2.30pm
Venue: Pearse Stadium
Manager: John McIntyre
Key Players: Joe Canning, Ger
Farragher
Rising Stars: Joe Gantley
Last Championship Meeting: 2009 SHC Qualifiers Phase 3, Cork 0-15 Galway 1-19 (Thurles)
Last NHL Meeting: 2009 NHL Division 1, Cork 1-11 Galway 416 (Páirc Uí Chaoimh)
2009 NHL Form: Third in Division 1, Won four, Lost two
Analysis: Galway, like Kilkenny, will have to make do without some of their sterling hurlers for the first three rounds of the league. The Canning brothers and Damien Hayes are notable absentees, but while Kilkenny can survive losses to star players, Galway don't have the luxury of talent seen in Kilkenny.
They have already this year won their first bit of silverware since joining Leinster in the shape of the Walsh Cup, where they defeated Dublin in the final.
Ger Farragher and Joe Gantley were outstanding throughout the competition. in the absence of Joe Canning, his name sake Gantley took up the mantle as being the pivotal man in their forward sextet. He was in awesome form on the ecge of the square.
His form will no doubt continue into the league, and when Canning returns it leaves McIntyre with an interesting selection dilema. The two Joes should become a devastating double act, but where each player plays is a mystery for now.
It is worth keeping a look on how former captain and 2005 Young Player of the Year David Collins progresses through the league after being in the intercounty wilderness for two years with an ankle injury.
Verdict: Missing Portuma boys, will mean missing out on final.
