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Preview: Leinster SHC - Dublin v Galway

It's Dublin vs Galway in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals on Sunday in Portlaoise (throw-in 4pm)! Ahead of the game, GAA.ie gets the players' views on the game with Niall McMorrow (Dublin) and Pádraic Mannion (Galway). Tickets for Dublin vs Galway are available from selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide and from the venue on matchday - U16's are just €5 with adult tickets priced at €15/20 - visit http://www.gaa.ie/tickets/where-to-buy/ to find a SuperValu and Centra store closest to you!

Sunday May 28

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Dublin v Galway, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 4pm

Claiming the Allianz Hurling League title in such convincing fashion ensures Galway bring lofty ambitions and expectations to Tullamore.

How Galway finished the campaign bodes well especially in the knockout stages when Waterford, Limerick, and Tipperary were all defeated.

Galway struck 1-7 without reply in the closing stages to beat Waterford, then Limerick’s challenge was dealt with in capable fashion before a curious decider when the Tribesmen cruised to a surprisingly emphatic win over Tipperary.

There were so many encouraging aspects for Galway especially the form of Joe Canning, Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, and Jason Flynn in attack, who all had productive moments during the closing stages of the League.

Despite eventually suffering relegation from Division 1A, Dublin invested hugely in youth during the League and only had their Cuala contingent available for the play/off loss to Clare.

Dublin were competitive in every game following the opening round loss to Tipperary at Croke Park and Ger Cunningham’s charges will be quietly confident about delivering.

Talented teenager Donal Burke impressed during the League, while any outfit containing Shane Barrett, Eoghan O'Donnell, Liam Rushe, Niall McMorrow, and Eamon Dillon must be afforded significant respect.

Cuala’s Cian O’Callaghan, Oisin Gough, Darragh O’Connell, and David Treacy only featured in the April 2 reversal to Clare.

Though Galway concluded the spring with silverware, Joe Canning stresses that May 28 was the date etched into maroon minds. “Every lad will tell you, Championship is what you train for,” Canning remarked at the launch of the Bord Gais Energy All Ireland Hurling Championship sponsorship. “The League is just a kind of a stepping stone for that. May 28 was always the date that we set out from last November that we were targeting.”

Canning admits that there is an element of uncertainty about Dublin considering they hurled the majority of the League without their Cuala players. “We don’t really know because all of the Cuala lads weren’t playing obviously so you didn’t really get a true reflection of what they’re like in the League and they were unlucky I suppose in a few matches in the League.”

Two years ago Cathal Mannion netted a quickfire hat-trick when Galway defeated Dublin in a Leinster SHC Quarter-Final replay, but the Tribesmen were fortunate to eke out a draw at Croke Park according to Canning.

“But looking back to 2015 they should’ve beaten us here in Croke Park the first day and then the second day I suppose it was just one of those days we got a few early goals and it just set them back.”

“There’s never been too much between us over the past number of years in any game so it’s not going to be any different.”

Galway made a blistering start in the last Tullamore tussle so Dublin’s youngsters will be especially keen to be solid early on.

Micheal Donoghue will be satisfied with how Galway concluded the League, but this could be a demanding encounter against Dublin.

Ensuring Galway remain consistent is what Donoghue and his panel have frequently spoken about over the past 17 months and this match in the midlands will be revealing.

DUBLIN: Conor Dooley; Cian O'Callaghan, Eoghan O'Donnell, Oisin Gough; Chris Crummey, Liam Rushe, Shane Barrett; Ben Quinn, Sean Moran; Eoghan Conroy, Niall McMorrow, David Treacy; Donal Burke, Ryan O'Dwyer, Eamon Dillon.

GALWAY: Colm Callanan; Adrian Tuohy, Daithi Burke, Paul Killeen; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Johnny Coen, David Burke; Jason Flynn, Joe Canning, Joseph Cooney; Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion, Conor Cooney.