Anthony Daly is predicting a “fascinating” encounter in Salthill this weekend when both Galway and Kilkenny will look to put to bed any lingering 1A relegation concerns.
Winless Offaly look doomed at the foot of the Allianz Hurling League 1A table, but above the Faithful County sit four teams clustered on four points.
Two of those, Kilkenny and Galway, meet on Saturday afternoon (4.30pm) in a game live on RTÉ.
The Cats come into the game on the back of a defeat at the hands of Cork. Despite scoring just 1-07 from play, it was a battling performance from Derek Lyng’s side against the form team in the league.
“They were quite lucky not to concede more goals,” Daly told the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
“The one thing with them is they keep fighting, it’s not in their DNA to down tools. They don’t really do an off-day, they keep battling.
“It’s a fascinating game as the Cats are looking over their shoulder. If they don’t get something, they might have to play Tipperary needing a result.
Micheál Donoghue has overseen two wins from four, with home supporters at Salthill witnessing a defeat to Cork last month before outclassing Waterford last weekend, a match Daly says was further evidence of Donoghue’s second coming in the Tribes hotseat really taking shape.
“I’m really enjoying watching Galway,” he said.
“I really see leadership developing in the team. I see Micheál putting his stamp on things. I see the Loughrea lads starting to bed in. Kieran Hanrahan had a great game at corner-back against Waterford, and the much talked about Cullen Killeen (his All-Ireland club semi-final red card was overturned ensuring he played in the final defeat to Ballygunner) – made his debut. His brother Tiernan was brilliant too.
“They looked like they were on a mission,” name-checking midfielder Cian Daniels and forward Colm Molloy as others to catch the eye.
With Gavin Lee and Daithi Burke absent in the win over the Deise, Daly believes the Tribesmen are moving well, yet for all the green shoots, a loss at Pearse Stadium puts them right back in the relegation picture.
“I’m praising Galway all along, but if they lose, they then have to go to Limerick. It’s fascinating.”
Watch Galway v Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
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