THREE-TIME ALL-Star Damien Hayes suspects that Galway’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Clare could be a ‘very dangerous game’ for them.
Damien Hayes at the launch of the EirGrid Moments in Time competition in Croke Park. Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE
Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
Galway remain unbeaten in this year’s championship having already defended their Leinster crown, while Munster finalists Clare come into this last-four tie on the back of an impressive victory over Wexford earlier this month.
This will be the Banner’s first championship trip back to Croke Park since capturing a famous All-Ireland title in 2013, but Hayes believes they will be unfazed by that and will test Galway in every department.
I think this is a very dangerous game for Galway,” he said at the launch of The EirGrid’s Moments in Time competition in Croke Park.
“There’s two different types of Clare team: the one that’s absolutely brilliant and there’s the Clare team that doesn’t turn up.
“I actually think this is a very good Clare team and they have an awful lot of talent. I think there’s going to be an awful lot of battles, that’s something I’m looking forward to.
I think Clare don’t fear Galway. I often say Galway don’t fear Cork, that’s just [from] over the years and I think Clare will love a rattle at Galway, they’ll love the challenge of playing the All-Ireland champions.”
“Alarm bells should be going for Galway to be going into this game with caution but I do expect Galway to win. I’m hoping that it’s going to be an absolute cracking game.”
Galway encountered few problems during their Leinster title defence and won all of their round-robin ties on their way to booking a spot in the final against old rivals Kilkenny.
The Cats gave them their first real challenge of the 2018 championship in that Croke Park meeting, hitting three injury-time scores to force a replay.
Advertisement
Galway managed to retain their title in Semple Stadium, but only after holding off a spirited Kilkenny comeback, in which they rallied from 12 points down to make it a one-point game in the second half.
“It was a wake-up call and that’s what happened,” says Hayes. “The first 20-25 minutes of Galway’s performance against Kikenny was just unbelievable.
“I think maybe at times Kilkenny were a bit naive when they were continuously pucking the ball long and the likes of David Burke and Johnny Coen were absolutely mopping up ball the whole time.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“They conceded three goals in that game but once again, that’s a stick that Micheál Donoghue can use to beat the lads with and say, ‘you shouldn’t have let them back into that game.’”
Hayes retired from inter-county hurling in 2015 and he says it took him three years to finally transition into the supporter’s role.
But he’s now looking forward to seeing Galway progress and achieve more success with this group.
I think Galway know that this is their opportunity to make hay, that they’ve a group of players here that are mature enough to go on and it’s Galway’s All-Ireland to lose.
“I’m not the only one saying this and I said it last year, I was one of the people who said Galway are good enough to win the All-Ireland three years ago.
“I knew the players were there and if things had worked out, Galway could be going for four All-Irelands in-a-row. I think this is a very mature bunch of Galway players and I feel they can kick on and win a lot.”
Clare dispatched Galway by six points in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final before going on to collect the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Hayes in action for Galway in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final against Clare. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Hayes lined out for the Tribesmen that day and scored the opening point of the game in what turned out to be one of Clare’s best performances in that championship.
The Portumna man can see traces of that All-Ireland-winning side permeating through the current Clare outfit, which is why Galway must be vigilant when they meet again this weekend.
“Shane O’Donnell is coming into a rich vein of form, John Conlon has 1-22 scored from play, Tony Kelly has 1-20 scored from play and two points scored from the 65.’
“I would love to see them return to their going back to game and taking them on and see… play to their strengths. I hope it’s going to be a cracking game. I know I’m a Galway man but you still love to go and say, ‘Jesus that was a great game.’
“They’re [Clare] in an All-Ireland semi-final and haven’t been there in five years. They’ve no excuses – how many of them have All-Ireland medals? No more than Galway and they should be thundering into this game.”
EirGrid is calling on all GAA supporters throughout the country to submit their favourite image of a GAA Moment in Time be it on the pitch as a player, as a volunteer in a club or as a supporter on the side line.
To enter the competition, log on to EirGrid Facebook and twitter channels and follow the instructions using #EirGridGAA
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
31 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Three-time All-Star Hayes: 'This is a very dangerous game for Galway... Alarm bells should be going'
THREE-TIME ALL-Star Damien Hayes suspects that Galway’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Clare could be a ‘very dangerous game’ for them.
Galway remain unbeaten in this year’s championship having already defended their Leinster crown, while Munster finalists Clare come into this last-four tie on the back of an impressive victory over Wexford earlier this month.
This will be the Banner’s first championship trip back to Croke Park since capturing a famous All-Ireland title in 2013, but Hayes believes they will be unfazed by that and will test Galway in every department.
“There’s two different types of Clare team: the one that’s absolutely brilliant and there’s the Clare team that doesn’t turn up.
“I actually think this is a very good Clare team and they have an awful lot of talent. I think there’s going to be an awful lot of battles, that’s something I’m looking forward to.
“Alarm bells should be going for Galway to be going into this game with caution but I do expect Galway to win. I’m hoping that it’s going to be an absolute cracking game.”
Galway encountered few problems during their Leinster title defence and won all of their round-robin ties on their way to booking a spot in the final against old rivals Kilkenny.
The Cats gave them their first real challenge of the 2018 championship in that Croke Park meeting, hitting three injury-time scores to force a replay.
Galway managed to retain their title in Semple Stadium, but only after holding off a spirited Kilkenny comeback, in which they rallied from 12 points down to make it a one-point game in the second half.
“It was a wake-up call and that’s what happened,” says Hayes. “The first 20-25 minutes of Galway’s performance against Kikenny was just unbelievable.
“I think maybe at times Kilkenny were a bit naive when they were continuously pucking the ball long and the likes of David Burke and Johnny Coen were absolutely mopping up ball the whole time.
“They conceded three goals in that game but once again, that’s a stick that Micheál Donoghue can use to beat the lads with and say, ‘you shouldn’t have let them back into that game.’”
Hayes retired from inter-county hurling in 2015 and he says it took him three years to finally transition into the supporter’s role.
But he’s now looking forward to seeing Galway progress and achieve more success with this group.
“I’m not the only one saying this and I said it last year, I was one of the people who said Galway are good enough to win the All-Ireland three years ago.
“I knew the players were there and if things had worked out, Galway could be going for four All-Irelands in-a-row. I think this is a very mature bunch of Galway players and I feel they can kick on and win a lot.”
Clare dispatched Galway by six points in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final before going on to collect the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Hayes lined out for the Tribesmen that day and scored the opening point of the game in what turned out to be one of Clare’s best performances in that championship.
The Portumna man can see traces of that All-Ireland-winning side permeating through the current Clare outfit, which is why Galway must be vigilant when they meet again this weekend.
“Shane O’Donnell is coming into a rich vein of form, John Conlon has 1-22 scored from play, Tony Kelly has 1-20 scored from play and two points scored from the 65.’
“I would love to see them return to their going back to game and taking them on and see… play to their strengths. I hope it’s going to be a cracking game. I know I’m a Galway man but you still love to go and say, ‘Jesus that was a great game.’
“They’re [Clare] in an All-Ireland semi-final and haven’t been there in five years. They’ve no excuses – how many of them have All-Ireland medals? No more than Galway and they should be thundering into this game.”
EirGrid is calling on all GAA supporters throughout the country to submit their favourite image of a GAA Moment in Time be it on the pitch as a player, as a volunteer in a club or as a supporter on the side line.
To enter the competition, log on to EirGrid Facebook and twitter channels and follow the instructions using #EirGridGAA
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Approach With Caution Clare GAA Croke Park Damien Hayes Galway GAA Hurling