Ex-Leinster chief: Galway finally proved us right

It took longer than some expected but Galway’s first Leinster hurling title has vindicated the decision to welcome them to the province four years ago, according to then Leinster Council chairman Sheamus Howlin.

Galway’s victory has been welcomed as a breath of fresh air to a summer that had previously offered little novelty value — but how easy it would be to forget now that their arrival in the province didn’t find favour with everyone at the time.

Dublin, Wexford, Westmeath and Offaly all voted against their inclusion — and that of Antrim — at a Special Congress in 2008, while Galway’s own club delegates had earlier given it a qualified thumbs up on a vote of just 66 in favour and 54 against.

“People had views and aired them, which was healthy,” said Howlin. “The feeling was that if it could help hurling then that had to be a good thing. By extending the hand of friendship, it has helped Leinster and it has helped Galway and hurling is a small family. I think it has been vindicated. It already got one extension, which was also debated at the time, and I know it is due to be discussed again next year.”

The question now is: what next? Galway’s stay in Leinster looks secured at senior level as long as the existing provincial structures remain in place but that will just make the fact that their underage teams remain outside its boundaries all the more anomalous as time goes by. It appears the appetite for change doesn’t exit within the county — and with three minor and three U21 All-Irelands won since 2005, it isn’t hard to understand why — while Leinster have their own reasons for hesitancy.

Leinster remains a hurling province with grave issues to address. Howlin added: “The thing that has disappointed me most has been Antrim,” said Howlin. “They just haven’t come on as we would have hoped but Galway have worked very well and wouldn’t it be great if they won an All-Ireland?”