Canning's View - Hurling Column July 22

We’re all familiar with the phrase that a week is a long time in politics but it doesn’t take long for things to turn around in the world of the GAA either and the Galway hurlers are case in point.

It’s not that long since they were the subject of some pretty bad abuse as they left the field at O’Connor Park following a defeat against Dublin and echoing what John McIntrye said at the time I felt it was way over the top.

People expected them to beat Dublin that day and when they fell short there was a negative reaction and many of the positives were lost in the fall out.

The creation of so many chances that day was a plus even if they weren’t taken and the difference in the outings that have followed since has been in how clinical the team has been when scoring opportunities have presented themselves.

I was aware of the hard work and team effort on the training ground following the Dublin defeat and crucially I knew the team wasn’t as bad as the Dublin reversal suggested – it wasn’t a true reflection.

I knew deep down they would bounce back and put in a decent performance but where that would take them no one could be sure of.

The wins over Clare and Cork have instilled confidence and reaffirmed that things are going in the right direction but Galway could do worse than being wary this weekend.

In many ways they should be able to relate to Waterford’s current predicament. They simply are no way near as bad as it looked last time out against Tipperary.

While Tipperary are going very, very well the concession of seven goals was something no one could have predicted.

In light of that there should be huge motivation to produce a big performance and restore some pride and this is something they have to do for themselves and their own supporters as much as anyone else.

I have been on the end of a bad beating before – although I can’t recall a team at this level conceding seven goals in a game of this magnitude.

You feel terrible in the days that follow and question the commitment and the sacrifices that go hand in hand in being involved in sport at this level.

However, moving on becomes inevitable and the mental strength required to compete at the top level serves players well in situations like this.

Nonetheless the goals for the respective teams on Sunday differ.

Galway are considerably further down the road in their revival. While Waterford will be looking to get back on track Galway can say they have done that and a semi-final berth is their pre-occupation.

I believe they will have enough in the tank. Waterford for me still have too many issues at the back for this time of the year and it looks to me like they need at least two Michael Brick Walsh’s to help get things back on an even keel in defence.

In the first game, where Limerick meet Dublin, Donal O’Grady has shown the difference a united camp can make in a very short space of time. His players have bought into his plan and they have made massive progress on last year.

He is a good reader of the game who brings his own ideas and plans to the table and the players obviously respect his approach.

Although they lost to Waterford in their Munster outing the fact that they were able to put it up to them underlined their ability to bridge the gap between divisions one and two.

Wins over Wexford and Antrim have followed and although a step up awaits there is little or no pressure on them going to Thurles this weekend and there is a feel good factor very much in evidence.

I am going against the grain with this one in the belief that I think that Limerick might just do it.

It appears that Dublin have levelled off and their inability to get goals is a concern at this stage. It is not just their inability to get goals, but their shortage of chances they are creating. Opposition goalkeepers haven’t been worked and that needs to change.

Injuries have taken their toll on their campaign and their displays have levelled off. They have had a solid season already but there is an acceptance there that they need to make a semi-final as evidence that they have moved to the next level. Dealing with that expectation is another challenge for them.

Either way the ‘prizes’ on offer will require this weekend’s winning teams to raise the bar again.

Tipp appear to be a good bit ahead of anyone and they look like they have kicked on from last year with the fluency and self confidence evident in their play.

My only concern is how early in the year they have reached this level.

7-19 is an amazing score to record but the question is can they maintain this? Kilkenny are building again in the background and they won all of the key battles in the win over Dublin in the Leinster final.

In my opinion, they are next in the pecking order and then there is everyone else. It’s shaping up nicely and we should have a clearer of picture of how things will unfold after the weekend activity.