Thirteen days out from an All-Ireland final, and less than 48 hours after Galway had shocked Cork in Croke Park, Micheál Donoghue cut a noticeably relaxed and content figure as he sat down with members of the local media.
Since returning to the Galway helm, Donoghue has appeared a calmer and more assured presence in his media dealings. Admittedly, pre-match and post-match interviews are unlikely to feature too highly on his list of favourite parts of the job, but second time around he seems more comfortable offering small glimpses behind the curtain.
That was evident again this week as he reflected on Galway’s remarkable progress, the growing bond between players and supporters, and the challenge that now awaits against Limerick in the Liam MacCarthy decider.
After last year’s disappointing campaign, few would have predicted that Galway would be preparing for an All-Ireland final in Donoghue’s second season back in charge. But having captured Leinster and then stunned Cork, the Tribesmen now stand just 70 minutes from the county’s first All-Ireland senior hurling title since 2017.
Donoghue has repeatedly described this Galway side as a team in transition, but he believes the bond between the players and supporters has grown significantly as the year has progressed.
“I think after last year, when it didn’t go too well, on our own reflection and preparation going into the new season with the transition in the squad, the support was probably intrigued by that to see how it’s going,” he said.
Massive connection
“I think as the season has gone on, it’s built really well. It’s the same with the hurlers and the footballers, when you have a massive connection with the supporters, it really does have a massive impact. I think sometimes the supporters don’t realise that as much as we do. The effect they can have on a game and their support can lift the lads so much.”
That connection was impossible to miss in Croke Park after the semi-final victory, when Galway supporters experienced maroon and white euphoria.
“We can feel it, that’s the thing,” Donoghue said. “When you’re there, you can feel it and the players can feel it. It was a brilliant atmosphere.”
The Galway manager is also well aware of what this run means across the county as excitement builds ahead of another crack at Limerick.
“Of course, you can see it around the county and, after the semi-final, you can feel the atmosphere and you know what it means to people,” he said. “I’m sure that excitement will grow over the next two weeks. Of course, you’re privy to it but you still have to be focused on the job at hand.”
For Donoghue, that job is preparing for a Limerick side he described as the standard-bearers of hurling – whose remarkable run began by beating Galway in 2018. Their dramatic semi-final win over Clare underlined the character and quality they still possess, and Donoghue was full of admiration for their consistency.
“They’ve had a very successful period,” he said. “They’re the standard-bearers and you just have to be full of admiration for the consistency that they’ve shown and the hunger and desire is still at the same level.
Galway’s own preparations have been helped by the extra day of recovery after playing their semi-final on the Saturday. Donoghue admitted that was “huge” from a recovery standpoint, although attention quickly turned back to the training field.
A major feature of Galway’s season has been the impact of the younger players, with several now preparing for their first senior All-Ireland final. Donoghue believes their exposure to a Leinster final and an All-Ireland semi-final will stand to them.
“We talked about the transition and the chemistry they have with the more experienced fellas. It’s been really good,” he said. “They’ve had the experience of playing in the Leinster final and an All-Ireland semi-final with a full house. They have that under the belt as they look forward to the final. Hopefully it’ll stand to them.”
Experienced players
The experienced players, meanwhile, continue to play a crucial role behind the scenes.
“They’re the best coaches we have,” Donoghue said. “They’re sharing their experiences with the younger fellas and giving them great guidance. Hopefully that’ll continue for another few weeks.”
Donoghue was also keen to praise his wider management team, including Franny Forde, Noel Larkin, Aidan Harte, Cyril Donnellan and Damien Joyce.
“We probably know each other inside out and upside down,” he said. “There’s a good chemistry between us and everyone that’s involved. Everyone has a role and everyone is playing a massive contribution and no one’s role is bigger than anyone else.”
The work carried out during the off-season has clearly borne fruit. Donoghue acknowledged that, after last year, Galway needed to move in a different direction.
“As a management team, we put a lot of work in the off-season. So, by the time we came back for pre-season, we were ready to go,” he said. “The lads are absolutely top and full of energy and they’re so mad into hurling, it’s massive.”
Despite the speed of Galway’s progress, Donoghue stressed that this is not a one-year project. He believes there is a strong age profile in the squad and that this group has the potential to remain competitive for years to come.
“These lads have a good few years ahead of them and it’s not all on now,” he said. “Sometimes in Galway that happens. Perceptions are out there and there has to be an understanding of where we are and what we’re trying to build and the longevity in that.
“Collectively, we 100 per cent recognise the opportunity that we have and that’s not lost on us. There will be nothing lost in our preparation over the next two weeks to go and have a right cut at it.”
Having already achieved their first target of winning Leinster, Galway now have the chance to complete a remarkable season.
“It was very much our number one target this year when we came back to win Leinster,” Donoghue said. “To get the young fellas to play in big, meaningful games like the Leinster final, an All-Ireland semi-final and now an All-Ireland final — that’s where they’re going to amass experience.
“You have some lads that have been through that journey and it hasn’t been that successful for them. Whereas a lot of young fellas have come in and we’re on a good run. Hopefully that will give them more motivation to push on and get better.”
