Clare and Galway – The Banner versus the Tribesmen

“Win or bust” is basically the mantra for these two great rivals as they go in search of the crucial victory that would ignite their championship flame for 2011. Both are coming into this game with a heavy burden of expectation harrowing over them. Of course, the form of each one is different, in Clare the reputation of this young team is glowing after the fight they put up against Tipperary after being wrote off. In that said tie Clare out hurled the All-Ireland champions for the first twenty minutes but alas when did hurling for just that short period of time ever win a game? If the Banner men can sustain that level of performance for the full seventy then they will win but they do face a wounded animal in the shape of near neighbours Gallimh. The Galweigans were poor against Dublin and save for a goal from Joe Gantley the scoreline would have been greater. Approaching that game three former starts were outspoken on the current team which failed to initiate a response from the hurlers in the Leinster semi final. Much of Galway’s hope lies on the shoulders of 22-year-old Joseph Canning from Portumna, against the Metropolitans he did not enjoy his greatest day in the Maroon gansai. True, he notched 1-3 with the goal coming after a slip by full back Tomas Brady that as it transpired curtailed Brady’s involvement in the match and the points coming from placed balls. In addition, he also hit at least 7-8 wides but remember he has had his fair share of injury problems so far this year. However, one of the games most promising talents certainly wont have an off day like that again and come this Saturday evening you can be sure he will be rearing for road. Galway have Canning, Clare have Honan. Again, Darach Honan was suffering from injury coming into the Clare versus Tipperary game and he did not endure his best day but again when Honan is fully fit and on fire he is unmarkable. He won't be able line out in this one due to injury but there is another forward in Clare making a name for himself. 

Conor McGrath will be in action this Saturday evening when Clare meet Galway

That forward being Conor McGrath who has been unearthed as their most potent forward after hitting 1-6 against Tipperary, 1-2 from play and what a way to start your career with an excellent individual goal less than a minute in. The nippy Cratloe youngster is still 19 years of age but is well able to hurl, indeed he is also an accurate free taker which is crucial to Clare after the retirement of Niall Gilligan in 2009 and before that Jamesie O’Connor. Both Gilligan and O’Connor were key forwards for the Banner and excellent free takers. It is expected McGrath will be watched today by David Collins and that will certainly be the duel to watch. Another interesting duel will be Conor Cooney versus Joe Canning, old LIT team mates they will know each other fairly well and have marked each other in the past when WIT and LIT faced off in the Fitzgibbon Cup most notably in 2008 but also in 2007 and 2009 when they met in the group stages. When both counties clashed in 2009 James McInerney earned the plaudits for a good hours defending against Canning and both LIT boys could be in direct opposition at some stage come 7 pm in Pearse Stadium. Galway boss John McIntyre has made five changes from the Dublin game the most talked about one being the axing of captain Damien Joyce while Clare guru Ger “Sparrow” O’Loughlin has one enforced change with the injured Honan being replaced by Sixmilebridge clubman Caimin Morey. As for the preditction? Well, it’s like this if Clare can replicate the opening twenty minutes against Tipperary and keep it going for at least another thirty then they will win. Still, it’s hard to call as Galway with home advantage and all this criticism being levelled at them are bound to come out with all guns blazing. They have six forwards that on paper can cause damage but when did six Galway forwards ever click? Save the 2005 clash with Kilkenny, they never really do, will that change this weekend? The experience of Galway might just shade it but really it's hard to call. The man target for the Tribesmen is Canning while Clare’s main man on Saturday will be McGrath, big expectations for two young and talented hurlers. Let’s hope it’s good and more importantly that the result be in Clare's favour. Up the Banner!