So now that you’ve had time to process it properly and watch it back, twice in my case, how do you feel about Galway's All Ireland chances? Manager Anthony Cunningham, the man who fought to stay in charge for a fourth season remains confident and when speaking to us last night back at the scene in Croke Park, he said one lesson learned is “they (his players) have to have more composure and bring the type of experience Kilkenny brought to it maybe at times slow down the game and take easier scores “.
The former St Brigid's manager is now four years in the Galway job but that doesn’t mean it’s an experienced squad in fact there is relatively new and inexperienced faces in key areas, including full back John Hanbury and forwards Jason Flynn and Cathal Mannion. Cunningham insists those players will demand more from themselves next time out having come up against the best, in the shape of Kilkenny.
There’s a three week break for the Connacht men who will play a Round 2 qualifier winner in the All Ireland quarter finals on July 26th. The manager has confirmed that the majority of his players will be released back to the clubs for fixtures next week which can prove to be a double edged sword.
Everyone except for the players who are returning from injury will be on club duty and the manager says “for us it’s hard luck if someone gets a broken hand, we have picked up those injuries in the last round”. “It’ll sharpen a few players but some of the old players you’d be worried about that they’ll get too much like Cyril Donnellan and Iarla Tannian but such is the medic and rehab that we do now we will have everybody right this week will be a light week and then we have two weeks for preparation “.
It’s all coming together insists Cunningham, but in the same breath he outlines it’s a results based business and that’s how his tenure in charge will be judged. Already they’ve had a better season than last in the Championship and despite early exits in the last two years Cunningham believes getting their hands on Liam McCarthy is possible. If they don’t think that what’s the point in trying?
Anthony Cunningham spoke to us at the Etihad Poc Fada in Croke Park at which I let the entire Newstalk family down by playing so badly.
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