Returning stars will be major boost for Galway, says Power
It was only two days after the seniors had lost in their All-Ireland final. For the players involved with both teams it was naturally a difficult affair.
Yet Richie Power remembers the night and how it helped the senior players to re-focus their minds and overcome the disappointment of their All-Ireland woe.
And Power predicts that Galway, after the loss to Cork, will likewise benefit in preparing for Sunday’s final at the Gaelic Grounds, (2pm).
Accompanying Power was the Galway manager Vincent Mullins who pointed out that he wouldn’t be seeing their four senior panelists (including Niall Healy and David Collins) until later in the evening.
The ‘biggest motivational factor’ last year was the return of Tommy Walsh, Conor Phelan and ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick after their senior commitments had finished, Power said.
“Just to see those lads coming through the gates on Tuesday night, after being beaten in the senior final the Sunday before, was a major boost.
They were really eager, the part they played in the win was enormous. And it showed in the All-Ireland final. I’m sure it will be the same in Galway.
“It’s going to give the rest of their lads a boost.’’
Suffering a real scare in the Leinster final when he was forced off injured in the first minute with a suspected broken collar bone, Power remembers how close Galway came to defeating them in last year’s semi-final.
Vincent Mullins recalled how his team started very well but finished poorly, the opposite of what he would have wished for.
And asked if he would favour affiliating with Leinster he said the extra games would definitely benefit their teams at all levels. “With the system we have, you play a semi-final and hope that fellows get over that hurdle. Galway would love to have more games. It’s hard to go in without playing serious matches because you just don’t know how good lads are.
“I don’t think it would be a bad idea to go into Leinster. You should be contesting (provincial) semi-finals and finals as minors, U21’s and seniors.’’ Power says that Kilkenny didn’t know what to expect of Galway last season. “Quite literally, they blew us apart in the first 40 minutes. We were lucky that Willie O’Dwyer and a couple of others ‘stood up’ and we scored nine points without reply. We were very lucky to come away with a win.’’
Kilkenny will be bidding for the county’s first three-in-a-row and while it has created a certain amount of hype around the county, it hasn’t impacted on the players. “It doesn’t have that relevance. For us, it’s just another final,’’ he added.
“We’re going in as if it is our first final and our last, because no matter what hurling you do, there’s nothing better than winning an All-Ireland, especially with the fellows you’ve come up through the grades with, your friends. At the same time, it would be nice to do the three in-a-row. We’d be remembered for that.’’
Kilkenny are managed by Adrian Finan, who coached the James Stephens team to the AIB All-Ireland club title earlier in the year. He also led Freshford to All-Ireland success in camogie.
“Obviously, the expectations are high, after Martin Fogarty won two,’’ he agrees with a laugh.
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