Galway braced for test from 'form team'

GALWAY HURLING remains an enigma. There have been moments to savour these past 20 years, most recently the 2005 All Ireland final, but failure to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back across the Shannon has left a generation of underage talent without senior silverware.

The championship structure has hardly assisted progress. Resistance to entering the Leinster championship appears to be subsiding as it seems the most viable means of ensuring they reach their potential by summer.

This week Galway manager Ger Loughnane supported the idea, while veteran panellist Alan Kerins put increased weight behind the plan yesterday.

"It would be the ideal route for us. The current system doesn't suit us at all. If we beat Antrim we play a Leinster (first round) loser. If we lose we play a Munster (first round) loser. If we lose either of those games we're gone. We must win three games to make an All-Ireland quarter-final," said Kerins.

"Entering the Leinster championship looks like a win, win situation. The chance to play Kilkenny, Offaly, Wexford or Dublin in Croke Park would be ideal."

For 2008, though, Galway must be content with an energising league campaign, culminating in Sunday's final against Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds, before a month of club championship fixtures leads into the Antrim fixture on June 28th.

So, after months of decent hurling they enter a period of challenge matches and club games before peaking come championship. But there are indications that Galway are finally ready to emulate the Conor Hayes-led 1988 All-Ireland-winning team.

"The under-21s had a great win last year, as did Portumna more recently, so the return of these extra guys has added greatly to the senior panel. It provides a fresh impetus having All-Ireland winners coming back in and it ensures competition for places," said Kerins.

"The talent has been there every year for the past 20 years. It is now up to us to make an imprint. We showed it against Kilkenny last season when we had it with six minutes to go but now we must improve again."

Twelve months later Loughnane now has his feet firmly planted under the table. "Last year we actually had a good campaign. We gave Kilkenny their stiffest test. Ger would also have learned a lot about players' capabilities," added Kerins. "There is no lack of talent. As many as 15 guys could get into the six forward positions, while in defence Ger Mahon, David Collins and Ollie Canning are coming back in."

Galway's season was always going to revolve around the coming of one Canning and return of another. Kerins is well-placed to pass judgement on Portumna's Ollie Canning, describing him as "one of the best corner backs in the modern era. Three All Star awards. His return can only be a huge lift, especially to the young lads in the panel".

Kerins remains in reserve for Sunday (alongside Ollie), his last start coming against an ever-improving Tipperary on March 9th, when illness ensured his early withdrawal and a fortnight "laid up in bed" with influenza. A brief appearance in the last quarter against Cork was a reminder of his candidacy for one of the hotly-contested forward berths.

Then there is the charity work. Just flick onto www.alankerins.ie and it becomes apparent this has become as much a part of his life as hurling. It commands huge attention but he has put off returning to the orphanages in Zambia until late September.

"I delegate as much as possible as it has mushroomed beyond my wildest expectations. A group have just returned from Zambia where they installed new plumbing systems in the orphanages and a group of Connacht rugby players are next to go out."

But for now the focus is on Tipperary and the last truly high- octane contest until June 28th.

"They are the form team in the country so far. The victory over Kilkenny last week proves that. They seem like a more united team this year. Their talent is unquestioned but there also seems to be a more professional set-up moving them in the right direction."

The same can be said of Galway.