GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 33 – September 4, 2015 | Page 32

ALL IRELAND HURLING FINAL

KILKENNY V GALWAY:
THE SUPER BOWL OF HURLING
BY DENIS O’BRIEN
SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
It’s the big one this weekend for the game of Hurling, the
All Ireland Hurling Final – venue, where else but, Croke
Park, Dublin. The defending champions Kilkenny make
their almost annual appearance in the fixture with western
pretenders, a resilient Galway, the opposition. The big game
could be described as the Super Bowl of Hurling as it pits
the best two against each other and these two have won that
claim without a doubt this year. Kilkenny will be favourites
but a young and growing in confidence Galway will put up a
mighty battle.
GALWAY’S PROMISE
Apart from the early part of their first Leinster clash with
Dublin, this Galway team has not looked back since blasting
past the Dubs in the replay with an inside full forward line
of young Cathal Mannion and Jason Flynn flanking Joe Canning, all on fire and from that match on they looked a team
on a mission. They were far too good for Cork in the All Ireland quarter final beating the Rebels by a massive 12 points
and in a thrilling semi-final versus Tipperary, they always
were able to battle back when leaking goals in defense.
Their attack has been on fire all season with young teenager
Conor Whelan proving a lively customer hitting 1-2 against
Cork and chipping in with several points in matches. Galway have shown promise in attack and their midfield and
half back lines have been solid without being spectacular,
however, their full back line has leaked goals at times – three

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in the semi-final – and they will have to tighten up considerable come Sunday if they are to dethrone the Cats.
Another part of their play this season has been the level of
intensity they bring when tackling players in possession and
were far too robust for a Tipp side who seemed to be under
pressure all through that last encounter. It did take an injury time point for Galway to get them over the line but they
showed resilience and a fighting spirit which was impressive.
They will need all that and more to beat Kilkenny, the ultimate hurling machine in the modern era, as the Cats usually
bring out their best performance of the year for the big game.
Something that Galway will need to battle against is their inner selves in that if they are ahead with five minutes to go and
it looks as if the title is within their grasp, they must beware
for if there is any team that is never beaten – especially with
an All Ireland on the line – it is Kilkenny! Galway cannot let
their guard down for one moment in this final and if they can
do that, get decent return from their forward and midfield
lines with a tight defense, then they have every chance.