Moore mindful of Cats monopoly

HOW do you beat Kilkenny? How do you overcome them in Leinster especially, where they’ve lost only once since 1997 – caught by a last-minute goal by Wexford in 2004? How do you sour the cream for the Cats?

An extra high hurdle is a start; the Leinster Council inviting Galway to join the eastern province.

A second step would be for Galway, who take on Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final this evening, to try something different, which they did last week when the panel spent four days at Johnstown House in Enfield.

One of those in the travelling party was defender Fergal Moore, for whom the experience of being a full-time athlete – if only for a short time – was full of positives.

“It was meant to be low-key, but it’s no secret anymore. It was nice to get a break from work, nicer again to be able to rest after all that training.”

As a chartered physiotherapist in Galway Regional Hospital, Fergal understands the importance of rest and knows also that Galway had to do something different this year if they’re to break out of their rut.

“You only have to look at the championship for the last three years, Kilkenny have been winners, we haven’t come close. We’re playing catch-up, but so is everyone else and anything different we can do is welcome, if it helps.”

Already they have equalled their win record during their 11-year stay in Munster, from 1959 to 69 inclusive with a facile 5-29 to 0-17 victory over Laois. Not the best preparation for a game against the three-time All-Ireland champions.

“In fairness to Laois they’re always very competitive, especially in Portlaoise, and it was a good game for a long time, but it descended into farce after the sending off, that really changed the game. We had the extra man, there was a lot of loose play, but it would have remained much more competitive if that hadn’t happened. We’d have preferred a better match but we prepared for that game as diligently as we’ve prepared for this one.

“We put up a good score, sorted out a few things that needed sorting out, tried a few things that seemed to come off. We learned a few lessons and could have learned more.

“The biggest thing from our point of view is that where normally when we went back training in January we were looking at our first championship match in late June or early July, this year it was in May, so automatically you had a better focus, you had the same start as everyone else.

“That makes it a lot easier to go back training, knowing those games are coming so much sooner. Also you’re getting championship games in big venues, and the more of those we get, the more we’ll improve as a team.”

Excitement is building in east Galway, the heartland of hurling in the county.

“Any time there’s something new people will latch onto it, and this is definitely new. There’s also a new management team, under John McIntyre, which brings its own interest.

“I think hurling people in the county are just happy that they have a few extra meaningful games to go to. The footballers always get that support early every year but now the hurling supporters don’t have to wait until July any more.

“There is an air of excitement but I’d say it’s more because of the novelty rather than anything we’ve done on the field. We had a bit of a mixed bag in the league, some good performances but then some bad ones as well.”

Certainly they didn’t generate too much positive excitement in Galway after their performance in Pearse Stadium against Kilkenny in that league.

A 1-20 to 0-12 defeat, it was a fairly heartless showing from Galway who never raised a gallop, and afterwards the fiery McIntyre wasn’t slow to vent his frustration with the team.

“It was very disappointing, that one,” Moore nods in agreement.

“We had put in an honest effort against Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final (two points loss after extra-time) but we were just caught cold in the league and never recovered. But we’ve worked hard since then.”