Tomorrow's All-Ireland hurling quarterfinal between Galway and Tipperary (Croke Park, 4.0, Network 2) represents a crossing of monumental importance for both counties. This match, more so than any either side have been involved in over the past three years, will provide a realistic appraisal of each team's worth. Nicky English and Mattie Murphy have grafted hard and bravely to fashion sides capable of making a sustained assault on the championship.
It is instructive that these two rivals haven't drawn swords at championship level for seven years and that the `Tony Keady affair' of 1989 is consequently quite fresh in the memory. Most of tomorrow's young protagonists were in primary school when Keady became an involuntary martyr to Galway's cause.
The most recent reference point for this match is, of course, the National League final, which Galway won by 2-18 to 2-13. Since that win, Galway have taken their annual plunge into the two-month abyss which forces them to lie idle while the championship turns molten elsewhere. As ever, there remains a question mark about how deeply this lay-off might affect them, but apart from the debacle against Waterford in 1998, the hindrance of this enforced hiatus has been overstated.
Fact is, Galway ought to have won their championship opener in 1996 against Wexford, could have beaten Kilkenny in the shoot-out a year later, and came within a hare's breath last summer against Clare. What has been striking about Galway this season is the settled nature of the team. Since their last championship outing in 1998, there have been a number of personnel changes which have made the side stronger. Rory Gantley and Alan Kerins have evolved into a promising midfield partnership over the spring and the county has unearthed yet another blue-chip forward in Craughwell's Fergal Healy, who has hit 718 in the league. His pre-eminence, coupled with Eugene Cloonan's return from suspension, has meant a bench place for Kevin Broderick, highlighting the array of attacking riches. The only other departure from last year has been the replacement of Nigel Shaughnessy with Finbarr Gantley, who has taken to his second coming with vigour and confidence.
Nicky English has repeatedly demonstrated that he is no sentimentalist. The aftermath of the 1999 capitulation against Clare inspired a series of purges. Many men who hurled in that replay found themselves playing in the Siberian leagues a few months later.
It is poignant that Johnny Leahy has come to represent the soul of this latest model. Used sparingly over the league, Leahy was a revelation against Waterford and Clare, but was a marginal influence against Cork in the Munster final. Tipperary's constant tinkering to find him a suitable partner is also worrying and a huge responsibility has been handed to debutant Micheal Ryan, who earned his stripes after limited minutes in the Munster final.
Although Philip Maher put in great league performances at full back, much will depend on the ability of his companions, Paul Ormonde and Michael Ryan, to cope with the blistering assaults of Canning and Healy. Along with Ollie Fahy, they stung Tipperary for 2-7 in the league decider.
Tommy Dunne will pose a similar threat in Liam Hodgins' territory at the other end and the confrontation between Paul Shelley and Brian Feeney promises intrigue. But the Tipperary forward lines struggled in the Munster final to compensate for the injured Declan Ryan and need to wring more from the half-forward trio. David Kennedy has been rock steady at centre back and Galway could pay if they insist on targeting Joe Rabbitte on the 40. Quick, deep ball might prove more lucrative.
Neither team can countenance losing this game. It is not an exaggeration to conclude that their respective fates over the next few years could depend on tomorrow's outcome. Tipperary have, since their league final loss, vindicated themselves with three worthy championship games. But they nonetheless lost to Cork and the Clare team that Tipperary faced were but a pale imitation of their once mighty selves. Until they win a quarter-final, Galway remain unfathomable. The only certainty is that they have the requisite skill to challenge for a championship. The mystery has hovered, perhaps unfairly, over the depth of their moral courage.
The feeling here is that they have, after lost seasons, tapped into that imponderable and will take a giant step forward tomorrow.
