Tribe have capacity to step it up
I’ve been in both counties during the past several days and there’s hardly been a word about this match. This is a derby game but you’d never know with the lack of hype and talk. I can’t understand why.
This is a crucial game for both Clare and Galway. It’s an All-Ireland quarter-final with no safety net, and only a game away from the last four at Croke Park.
To Galway first. If the team that turned up against Dublin turns up again in Thurles then Clare will be celebrating tomorrow evening.
With the exception of Joe Canning – who was exceptional again – Galway were poor throughout the field. It wasn’t until they emptied the bench that they started to improve, but by then it was too late.
As we know by now, Galway can change totally from one game to the next and that’s what their fans will be hoping for tomorrow. At the time of writing I don’t know the team but I expect to see several changes.
That can be good, it can be bad – any changes made should not be out of panic. They do need to change that defence though as Dublin got their scores all too easily in the Leinster final.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Colm Callanan between the posts. He was outstanding during the league and shouldn’t have lost his place for the championship.
Andy Smith, Jonny Glynn, Aidan Harte and Damien Hayes, who impressed off the bench in the decider, should start, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are again kept in reserve.
Galway need to hit form, players need to step forward, because Joe Canning just can’t continue to carry them on his own.
The big question for me is whether or not Clare will change their game for Galway? Will they go direct. Or more specifically can they go direct? They might be strong in places but a few notable players apart, they’re not a big team, they don’t have the strength to match Galway. I’m convinced they should go direct, or try it at least, and get early ball up to that full-forward line any way they can and let Darach Honan and those battle for possession.
Mix the game, that’s what Clare have to do. They have pace and skill but the short-passing game can be overdone and that too can become predictable and then easy to neutralise, especially coming out of defence.
And there are no better boys than the Galway management to have a plan to counter Clare working the ball out of defence.
Clare will need to have planned to deal with the high ball into defence too because that’s an area going to be targeted by Galway
A winner? The heart says Clare, the head fears the Galway backlash. Galway to take it.
