Pádraic Mannion is the Galway hurling captain for 2020.
By Cian O'Connell
Padraic Mannion had known no other way. In his first four years as a Galway senior hurler an All Ireland semi-final, at least, was contested on each occasion.
Then came the bizarre summer of 2019 when Galway exited the Leinster Championship on a night of high drama.
There was no shortage of tension and when the mathematics were finished Galway were out. Dublin, Wexford, and Kilkenny survived.
"Yeah, a couple of us that came in during 2015 in the team together, definitely for us it was a bit different," Mannion admits.
"Some of the older lads had an experience or two of that. Whether you've experienced it before or not it is still not a nice feeling. That just shows how competitive the Championship is. We lost one game, we were out.
"We were all level on points. It looks like a disastrous year, but it is very small margins that put us out. That is how tight it is. If you are off your game for any given day that is how it has to be."
The autumn and winter brought ample time for reflection and without Michael Donoghue in charge, the dynamic had changed. Mannion, though, is encouraged by the methods being adopted by Shane O'Neill.
"It probably was a bit weird in ways going back," Mannion says. "I started in '15 when we had Anthony Cunningham. Then for the next four years we had the same management.
"I was used to the same set-up, but the change has been great. It has brought a freshness and something different.
Pádraic Mannion remains a key performer for Galway.
"Lads react different to that, so it has been good overall, very good. The lads have brought huge high standards which has been a continuation, that is all we could ask for as players. Everyone is happy, training away, working hard, it has been good."
Was it a demanding stint when Donoghue and his well regarded backroom departed?
"Yeah, obviously when you are four years under a management team and you had a bit of success you build up relationships on and off the pitch with the management team that was there," Mannion replies.
"We knew early on - I don't even know what date he left - but we had a good length of time from when he left. So we had time to adapt in our own heads to the change coming.
"By the time it came around we were all ready to go. That was it. You just have to move on with it. You'd still have a good relationship with the past management team.
"From the hurling side of things we were ready to move on by the time it came around.
"They gave four years to the cause, they all have young families. It is very understandable. From our point of view we just stick to the hurling side of things now, move on from that.
"As I said we are all happy, training away, and working hard. The lads have brought huge high standards again, that is all we can ask for."
Sunday's Pearse Stadium encounter against Tipperary offers another interesting challenge. Captain for the 2020 campaign, Mannion is thrilled to assume that role.
Pádraic Mannion is hopeful Galway can make progress this year.
"Yeah, I was obviously honoured to be asked when Shane asked me," Mannion states.
"Straight away I said I would do it. I didn't have to think about it. When you get an opportunity like that I wasn't going to turn that down. From my point of view then and obviously for my family and club it is great.
"From my point of view I just want to lead by example on the pitch, not so much with my words or anything, just by actions, to try to keep doing what I'm doing. Hopefully I will do the job justice.
"David Burke has been an unbelievable captain for us for the last number of years. I'm not going to try to be David Burke, I just want to carry on what he was doing, to see where it takes us."
Did watching the 2019 hurling summer develop without Galway bring any added motivation for the current campaign?
"I don't know; I played in All Ireland finals and I was probably as hungry coming back the following year again," Mannion responds.
"So I don't know. Players are probably different. Some lads maybe the break they will take differently. Personally it doesn't bother me, I'd still be as hungry no matter what. You go back to the clubs and all that. I took a break, went on holidays for a week or two after the game.
"I just switched off from it and went back with the club. I enjoyed the few games with the club. From that side of things if you had to take a positive out of it - we got to spend more time with the clubs.
"It is not nice being knocked out that early any time, but everybody can't get through, and last year it was us that got knocked out. You'd be just hoping that we could get one or two steps further this year."
