GALWAY FACE A daunting challenge when they meet Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC final tomorrow.
“Kilkenny will be looking at it in two ways,” says Cats legend JJ Delaney. ”It is a Leinster final, it is a final to win and it is a pathway through to the All Ireland semi-final. That is the way they want to go. They want to go through the front route.”
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JJ Delaney is an ambassador for Sky Sports GAA coverage this summer. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Then you have the added, extra motivation because we saw what Galway did in 2012 and we know what they are capable of doing.”
Despite suffering relegation to Division 1B during the league, Kilkenny will be keenly aware of Galway’s natural ability to turn over any team as they did with the reigning All-Ireland champions in the provincial decider in 2012.
“On a given day, if they turn up for the 70 minutes they can turn over any team which they have done,” says the nine-time Celtic Cross winner. “We saw that against Tipperary last year as well. They are capable. In a one-off game, you have to have your guard up against Galway because they can catch you on a one off day.”
Galway players controversially ousted ex-manager Anthony Cunningham after last year’s championship and as a result, pressure is mounting on the Westerners. Galway haven’t lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup since 1988 and if Micheál Donoghue fails to deliver once again, Delaney believes that fingers may be pointed in the direction of the players.
“After what happened last year and what the players did to Anthony Cunningham as well, they need to come out.
“They’ve been quite efficient now coming into the championship. They are getting the job done with relative ease against Westmeath and Offaly. Let’s just see what Galway team comes out there as well.”
Dealing with the colossal influence of one Kilkenny talisman will be key for Donogue’s men, according to Delaney, a Sky sports pundit again this summer.
“The big thing they’ll have to do is nullify the effect of Michael Fennelly in the middle of the field.
“How they do that? In the last couple of years they didn’t do that, especially in the second half of the All-Ireland final last year. Michael really came into his own, took over the game and brought Kilkenny back into it as well.”
'After what the players did to Anthony Cunningham, they need to come out.'
GALWAY FACE A daunting challenge when they meet Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC final tomorrow.
“Kilkenny will be looking at it in two ways,” says Cats legend JJ Delaney. ”It is a Leinster final, it is a final to win and it is a pathway through to the All Ireland semi-final. That is the way they want to go. They want to go through the front route.”
“Then you have the added, extra motivation because we saw what Galway did in 2012 and we know what they are capable of doing.”
Despite suffering relegation to Division 1B during the league, Kilkenny will be keenly aware of Galway’s natural ability to turn over any team as they did with the reigning All-Ireland champions in the provincial decider in 2012.
“On a given day, if they turn up for the 70 minutes they can turn over any team which they have done,” says the nine-time Celtic Cross winner. “We saw that against Tipperary last year as well. They are capable. In a one-off game, you have to have your guard up against Galway because they can catch you on a one off day.”
Galway players controversially ousted ex-manager Anthony Cunningham after last year’s championship and as a result, pressure is mounting on the Westerners. Galway haven’t lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup since 1988 and if Micheál Donoghue fails to deliver once again, Delaney believes that fingers may be pointed in the direction of the players.
“They’ve been quite efficient now coming into the championship. They are getting the job done with relative ease against Westmeath and Offaly. Let’s just see what Galway team comes out there as well.”
Dealing with the colossal influence of one Kilkenny talisman will be key for Donogue’s men, according to Delaney, a Sky sports pundit again this summer.
“The big thing they’ll have to do is nullify the effect of Michael Fennelly in the middle of the field.
“How they do that? In the last couple of years they didn’t do that, especially in the second half of the All-Ireland final last year. Michael really came into his own, took over the game and brought Kilkenny back into it as well.”
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Anthony Cunningham GAA Galway JJ Delaney Kilkenny Leinster Final Leinster Hurling Time to shine