Stalwart Linnane livid over Galway’s lack of defensive clarity

ALL-IRELAND SHC QUARTER-FINAL:

In light of Galway’s Leinster final hammering, the three-time All-Ireland medal winner berated the management over their league and championship team selections this year.

During the spring, both Joseph Cooney and David Collins were experimented at centre-back, before Shave Kavanagh was given the nod for the county’s provincial opener against Laois, though virtually unproven.

“We don’t have a settled six backs and that is where we are in trouble,” fumed the Gort native.

“I don’t know really what they were doing during the league campaign, they haven’t got a settled six backs coming into the championship and I am very disappointed in that.

“How they are going to perform I don’t know.

“Nobody in Galway could pick the six backs at the moment. League is the time to settle your team for championship and we didn’t do that.”

Further up the field and Linnane is bemused at the consistent sideline instructions ordering sharpshooter Joe Canning away from goal, negating the team’s inside threat.

“Our most dangerous forward and one of the best in the country and he’s coming out around midfield, I can’t understand it, I don’t see the point in it, it beggars belief.

“I know if I was manager of a team going out you’d be quite happy to see him at midfield. He’s no threat out there.”

Cappataggle’s James Skehill, having recovered from shoulder surgery, is expected to continue between the sticks against Clare, but the former corner-back is adamant Galway’s number one shot stopper lies wasted in the stand.

“I think our best goalkeeper is Colm Callanan, I’ll stand over that. I have great admiration for any goalkeeper, but I think our best goalie is Colm.

“I didn’t like what happened last year, an injured goalkeeper was put out on the field of play in an All-Ireland final. He [Skehill] shouldn’t have been out.

“They [Clare] seem to be super fit this year, whereas we looked very sluggish that day in Croke Park. We started training very early this year in October.

“I don’t know what that a good idea. When they should be coming into form they are tired. They could have done with some time of, the body has to rest. It is only an amateur game,” he added.