More than a sweeper, Colm Galvin the ‘gatekeeper’

Some hurling matches resonate far more than others, with a draw doubly eloquent.

A draw it was between Clare and Galway. Now we must absorb what happened, analysing what the game revealed about these teams and pondering the impact generated by certain kinds of pressure. There is a reason why people see winning in sport as the coordination of a squeeze.

Last week’s column broached this All-Ireland semi-final as a possible audit on hurling in a broader sense than two counties’ health. Resonance transpired in a manner way beyond anything anticipatable. Most matches are simply a contest, a result. Yet some matches become a blueprint for future contests, a storehouse of resources.