Micheál Donoghue: 'The shortest route is the best route. That's the biggest carrot of all for us'

Galway have used 30 players in this championship. 22 of them do not have Leinster medals. 

Galway hurling manager Micheál Donoghue said that he can see "confidence growing" in his side. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Seven years. Seven years since David Burke looked out at a small sea of maroon from halfway up Thurles’ Ryan Stand. Seven years since Galway last ruled their adopted province.

Seven years is not a huge gap in the eyes of then and present manager Micheál Donoghue. But such is the length of time he’s spent on the Galway sideline, he knows full well that seven years is a significant period and sizable wait for those that populate the stands around him.