GAA: Cork v Galway:ALTHOUGH THIS is too interesting a match in the GAA All-Ireland hurling championship to be staged quite this early, the challenge of Cork is certainly a horse Galway need to re-mount as soon as they can.
The devastation of last year’s dismal capitulation surely has to be the strongest motivation.
The fact a youngster in his rookie year was left to carry the whole fight was an added shame for the county, as Joe Canning – like Joe Cooney all of those years before him – looked around to find no one behind him, as Cork began to resist.
In the chaos and demoralisation that followed, Ger Loughnane let go of his ill-fated command and maybe a salient fact was lost: Galway do that sort of thing all too often – getting into a winning position and then acting like rabbits mesmerised in the headlights.
Even this year’s tussle with Kilkenny observed a similar script. More than competitive for the first three quarters, Galway fell away at the very stage of the match when they needed to raise their game and make the inevitable comeback a harder road than it proved.
There is, however, more of a shape to Galway this year. For all the question marks the team has a sense of what it’s trying to do.
Cork, for their part, have improved in the months since belatedly coming together under new manager Denis Walsh. The first round against Tipperary was creditable and even allowing for Offaly’s poor form, the second half display in the qualifier was promising not least because of Aisake Ó hAilpín continuing development and demonstration of a goal-scoring touch.
John Gardiner’s rediscovery of better form on being moved to centrefield in a switch with Tom Kenny was another encouraging indicator.
There remains, however, a sense of mending and making do about the attack. Ben O’Connor is cleared to play and that is critical because it would be hard to see them surviving without the regular scoring he provides from play and placed balls but the rest of the attack is an unconvincing blend of the unseasoned and over-seasoned.
Galway aren’t without their own foibles, the main one of which is mental – it is still uncomfortably easy for their supporters to imagine them lapsing into the listless apathy that Cork have a history of successfully sensing and exploiting.
But they have emerged with a credit balance from three matches to date against a variety of opponents.
CORK:D Cusack; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, P Cronin, T McCarthy; K Murphy, A Ó hAilpín, P Horgan.
GALWAY:C Callanan; F Moore, S Kavanagh, O Canning (capt); D Joyce, J Lee, E Lynch; G Farragher, K Hynes; A Callinan, C Donnellan, A Smith; D Hayes, J Canning, N Healy.
Referee:Brian Gavin (Offaly).
In the last episode:In one of the most memorable qualifiers of last season, Cork – down to 14 after Donal Óg Cusack's red card – pulled themselves out of a tailspin to defeat an admittedly one-man resistance in the shape of Joe Canning.
Galway have to go back to the first season of the hurling qualifiers in 2002 for their last summer victory against Cork.
You bet:Galway are marginal favourites at 10 to 11, with Cork at 21 to 20. The draw is 10 to 1 and Galway (-1) are available at 11 to 10 on the handicap [Boylesports].
On your marks:Joe Canning's importance to Galway is almost a cliché at this stage but he hasn't been full-on so far in the championship.
That has been partly down to a failure to supply him adequately but if he hits form, the pressure will be on Eoin Cadogan, who has been making steady progress so far – albeit not against opponents as capable of devastation.
Gaining ground: Not Galway's favourite venue, having lost four of their last five big championship matches here, including last year's blow-out against this evening's opponents. Cork have already lost once in Thurles this championship, in their opening fixture against Tipperary, but traditionally they love the place.
Just the ticket:Stands are ticket only and cost €25. Terraces are €15 and cash will be taken at the stiles. Juvenile tickets are €5.
Crystal gazing:This is delicately balanced but mainly because Galway are playing Cork, whose infinite capacity to surprise hangs around the westerners like a miasma.
On this occasion Galway can clear the air.
