The poacher and the ’keeper

LIAM Donoghue might never have made it to the top in hurling if he hadn’t been patient, if he wasn’t prepared to keep up his standard at club level and wait for the opportunity to make the goalkeeping position on the Galway hurling team his own.

It finally happened for him two years ago, when he made his championship debut against Clare, and this season he took over the captaincy. Nobody is more pleased for him than his twin brother Micheál and his father Mike, well known as a coach operator.

It wasn't always easy for him. Back in 1992, in the company of Micheál, he won an All-Ireland minor medal, against Waterford.