Conor Whelan: 'In Galway, we can write a player off maybe a bit too soon'
Conor Whelan of Galway in action against Richie Reid of Kilkenny during the Leinster SHC final. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Galway captain Conor Whelan says the county has to learn to stop “writing off players too fast” in the early part of their senior careers.
With the notable exception of 2017, Galway’s inability to translate ample All-Ireland winning under-age success at senior level seems an age-old issue.
Whelan neither won an All-Ireland at minor or U21 level and was very much an exception when was called into the seniors by Anthony Cunningham at the age of 18 in 2015 and made his championship debut three months later.
It happened for him relatively quickly but he wants to see others given time to develop. “I think there's probably a good few young lads coming through together, which probably makes it a bit easier. For me, I just came in in the month of April on my own. I was only 18 at the time and I was very young and just after finishing minor.
“I suppose you would try to help young lads to adapt to the environment. I think Galway hurling after the last two or three years has been going through a transitional period where you're trying to show young lads that came from minor and U20 teams that there's a different level there. I think that's becoming more apparent. The average age that players are making it through is 23 now.
“As a player, you have to accept that the young players will take some time to come through and sometimes, particularly in Galway, we can write a player off maybe a bit too soon. Giving them the time to develop and not put too much pressure on them is important and we all have a responsibility to do that.”
Ahead of facing Carlow in the Leinster SHC first round clash in Pearse Stadium on Sunday, Whelan is hoping the championship goes well for David Burke and Johnny Glynn, two players who he says “were very good” to him starting his senior career.
Burke returned from a cruciate tear 13 months ago to star in St Thomas’ All-Ireland senior club triumph, while Glynn was recently called into the extended panel by Henry Shefflin having spent the past few years in New York.
“If you knew the man (Burke), I don't think you'd ever have any doubts about him coming back. It's a testament to him how fast he turned it around. He navigated a lot of different challenges throughout the course of his career and we were never in any doubt.
“Obviously, he was a huge loss to us. He's probably one of Galway's greatest ever, to be honest. It's just great to have him back on board and great to have him around the group. We're hoping for a big year from him.”
About Glynn, he said: “It's something we've probably looked to for the last couple of years and through different reasons, he has a life in New York, so it probably didn't really work out.
“I think it just came to a point this year where the stars aligned a little bit. He came back and played with his club last year and showed that he still has a lot to offer.”
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