Galway ‘in good shape’ and set on getting intensity right from start

Galway hurlers have kept preparations under lock and key for their All-Ireland quarter-final tie against Clare.

The gates have been shut at Athenry and Pearse Stadium since last week, with Cunningham asserting that Sunday’s line-up will be determined by performances at training alone.

“The guys that played in the Leinster final have had to prove themselves again in training,” he revealed.

“It took us 50 minutes to get up to the required championship pace against Dublin, but we still only played championship hurling for about ten minutes. If we start with that intensity the next day that will help us a lot.

“We won’t be looking too much at the Leinster final, we won’t mull over the analysis of what happened that day. Whoever has performed well in training in the last two weeks will be picked, it’s as simple as that.”

Niall Donoghue’s return to fitness has increased the management’s defensive options, but a cruciate ligament injury sustained by Sean Skehill has ended his involvement with the panel.

“We are in good shape, hopefully everyone will be okay and it seems like, apart from Sean, we don’t have anything that will rule anyone out for Sunday as far as we can tell.

“Niall Donoghue is back training with us and he seems to be going very well. He is definitely in contention to start this weekend, but there is a lot of pressure for places to start.”

The Galway manager has yet to cross swords with the Banner at senior championship level, but as U21 boss in 2009, it was Clare who triumphed in their All-Ireland semi-final meeting.

Joe Canning pilfered 4-7 on the day, but Darrach Honan and Colin Ryan, tallying 2-4 and 0-8 respectively, guided Clare to an epic 3-23 to 5-15 extra-time win. With nine of that Clare side likely to line out in Thurles, Cunningham is well aware of what his side face.

“Clare were unlucky to lose to Cork in Munster. They wasted three good goal chances that day in the first-half, so there is no doubt they are an emerging team with huge calibre players.

“They have won two U21 titles in the last few years and that class is beginning to come through to the seniors. They have the likes of Tony Kelly, Podge Collins, John Conlon and Darrach Honan. They are four key men for them and they arehugely-talented forwards.

“There is no weak link in their side in my book and it looks like we will have to be at our best to win the game. It looks like a top drawer performances is needed from us. If we play hard and fast hurling we expect to be in with a good chance on the day. The required performance wasn’t delivered the last day, but at least we have a chance to redeem ourselves on Sunday,” he added.