With their Leinster Championship destiny very much in their own hands after a workmanlike victory over Wexford last weekend, the Galway senior hurlers welcome Antrim to Pearse Stadium this Saturday afternoon (throw-in: 1.30pm ) with a chance to cement their place in the top three.
Cathal Mannion stole the show again with a mammoth 17-point haul against Wexford, inspiring his team to a 1-29 to 2-16 win. Despite playing into the prevailing wind in the first half, Galway's appetite for hard graft was certainly encouraging as they went in four points to the good at half time with the Ahascragh-Fohenagh sharpshooter already accumulating eight scores.
Galway showed a marked improvement in their ability to work the ball up the pitch, especially from short puck-outs, but the quality of opposition has to be factored into this equation. David Burke’s return to the engine room is surely a positive development, while Conor Whelan’s industry in the half forward line is reaping dividends, albeit not directly for the player himself on the scoreboard.
Brian Concannon looks like he is starting to show glimpses of the form that made him such a handful to mark a couple of years ago, but there will be some concern at the relative ease with which Wexford were able to craft their second half goals.
The return of Daithí Burke after suspension should help in that regard and Gavin Lee, while excellent in possession, is still very much learning the art of defending at this level.
Antrim travel down on the back of three successive double-digit losses, the most recent a 15-point home defeat to Dublin last weekend. Davy Fitzgerald’s side trailed by twelve at half time having played against the elements and never really looked like clawing that deficit back, with Fergal Whitely’s second half goal the nail in the coffin.
A straight red card for free-taker James McNaughton won’t help their cause this weekend, with the injury status of Kealan Molloy and Conor Johnston also in question. Sean Elliot and Conal Cunning are long-term absentees, and Fitzgerald was keen to stress how much of a loss these players are to his plans. After having Galway referees for two of their games thus far, their contest with the Tribesmen will be overseen by Dublin’s Thomas Gleeson.
Antrim’s only previous Leinster Championship visit to Salthill saw the home side run out convincing winners on both occasions, as Galway scorched them for 5-29 in 2023. Galway could do with a boost to their scoring difference just in case another bizarre set of final day results sees three teams finish level on points.
