Galway show true colours

A LARGER than expected crowd were in sunny Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening for this All-Ireland senior hurling qualifier with both sets of supporters approaching the tie with trepidation.

Galway were coming off the back of a depressing defeat by Dublin in the Leinster semi-final while Clare suffered a three-goal loss to All-Ireland champions Tipperary in Munster after producing a spirited performance.

The home fans were concerned if Galway’s always fragile psyche was so badly damaged by their last outing that they would be vulnerable to defeat from a rising Clare, while the Banner faithful were anxious about a backlash from the Tribesman still raw from that Dublin defeat.