Patience a virtue for Galway starlet Burke

WHEN it came to mapping out his Galway senior hurling intercounty career, David Burke looked to the south-east of the county for inspiration.

Ever since he emerged as a precocious youngster with Portumna, Joe Canning had been anointed for greatness but after emerging from minor ranks he opted to delay his progression to the senior ranks for 12 months.

Burke may not have been a high-wattage star like Canning but three years featuring on the Galway minor teams left him perfectly entitled to consider life in the top flight.

Galway boss John McIntyre drafted him in for a few trial games for a part-time role as the seniors cranked up preparations for last year’s championship. But when the prospect arose of subscribing full-time Burke, like Canning, resisted the advances.

“The seniors were onto me last year and I went in to play a few trial games with them. They were onto me to join then after that. But I said I’d leave it for a year and take a break from it. I’d been hurling three years minor and I said I’d wait. I played U21 alright but it wasn’t as demanding as the senior. I think it was the right call.”

The senior management did not scrub his name from their memories and come last January he was brought on board for the 2010 campaign. The Walsh Cup proved a productive early testing ground. In the opening matches of the league he was shunted between attack and the bench, but when Galway faced Offaly in March Burke was released to his natural domain at midfield. He subsequently flourished, dovetailing wonderfully with Ger Farragher as Galway claimed league honours.

“The bare minimum was there in the team available for the Walsh Cup because of injuries, and lads with colleges and Portumna. You’re playing a game weekend to show what you can do. That was a big help.

“The gameplan we play this year suits myself and Ger. He is super to be alongside with his striking of the ball and his reading of the game.”

Burke hails from the St Thomas club, located on the N65 halfway between Gort and Loughrea. He is their current torchbearer on the national stage but there have been predecessors. Richie Murray burst to prominence as a 19 year-old star in 2001 and thought he opted out of the Tribesmen setup this season, Burke hails the influence of his club colleague.

“We used to go training together back in January but then Richie decided that he wasn’t able anymore.

“He has given ten years hard commitment to Galway hurling. He’s still hurling away with the club and is a good lad to give advice. I’m just glad to be involved now, but there’s good competition for the midfield places with guys like Eoin Lynch and Niall Cahalan. I have it now for the Wexford game and I’m going to try to hold onto it,” he says.