Two games. Two encouraging displays against last year’s All-Ireland finalists. But ultimately, two defeats and zero points. That is the stark reality of Galway’s opening to the 2026 National Hurling League.
As it stands, they sit second from bottom in Division 1A. The only side beneath them, and the only other pointless team, is Offaly, this weekend’s opponents.
The time for moral victories has now passed. When Micheál Donoghue’s men travel to St Brendan’s Park in Birr — regarded by many in the Faithful County as their spiritual hurling home — they simply have to win. Anything less would leave the Tribesmen staring at the very real prospect of relegation to Division 1B for 2027.
On recent evidence, and in virtually every modern meeting between the counties, Galway should get the job done. It is 32 years since Offaly last beat the Tribesmen in the senior championship and 25 years since they overcame the men in maroon in the National League.
That league victory came in Birr, a 2-23 to 3-11 success illuminated by a 19-year-old debutant named Damien Murray, who delivered a placed-ball masterclass and finished with 14 points. Fittingly, it too was staged at St Brendan’s Park, with Offaly managed by Ardrahan native Micheál Bond at the time.
If omens offer any encouragement to Offaly, the venue and the fact they are once again under the guidance of a Galway man in Johnny Kelly, assisted by former Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan, provides a sliver of belief.
Truth be told, survival in Division 1A was always going to be a tall order for Offaly given their inexperience and lack of squad depth. Undoubtedly Kelly and his management would have earmarked certain fixtures, and this was always likely to be one. Particularly given Galway’s transitional team and his familiarity with many of the personnel they’ll be facing.
Yet if Galway reproduce anything close to the level shown against Tipperary and Cork, this contest should follow the familiar script of Galway-Offaly clashes over the past two decades. Before last year’s championship meeting in Tullamore, there were whispers of a potential banana skin given the Tribesmen's poor showing against Kilkenny in a 12-point loss. But Galway responded by delivering a comprehensive victory.
Faithful improvements
Offaly’s All-Ireland U-20 winning crop of 2024 has been one of the most talked-about underage teams in recent years. Clear progress was evident last season with promotion to the top flight of the league and the retention of their Leinster championship status at Antrim’s expense.
For the current Galway team, preserving Division 1A status hasn’t been more important for quite a while. This emerging group of young players desperately needs regular exposure to the very best opposition to accelerate their development as players and a team. Demotion to the more forgiving 1B would do little to sharpen them. Staying where they are is crucial.
Offaly do have threats. Adam Screeney, Dan Bourke, Dan Ravenhill and Luke Watkins are all capable of causing problems. It will be interesting to see whether their management replicate the approach used against Waterford, when they stationed three towering figures in Brian Duignan, Oisín Kelly and Ciaran Cleary inside. How Galway’s full-back line, potentially tasked with handling Joshua Ryan and Cillian Trayers, copes with that physical examination will be interesting.
Up front, however, Galway should possess the greater firepower. With Cathal Mannion back in contention, there is genuine x-factor in attack alongside the youthful energy of Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte and Darragh Neary.
All told, it is a must-win encounter. Survival may ultimately require positive results in two of the remaining fixtures against Waterford, Kilkenny and Limerick but defeat in Birr would leave the margin for error perilously thin and survival bordering on near impossible.
Footballers rise from dead again
Twelve points down in Tralee against the All-Ireland champions, many would have been forgiven for drafting the obituary given the depleted nature of Pádraic Joyce’s squad. Instead, Galway produced a comeback rich in character.
Captain John Maher led from the front, Matthew Tierney grew in influence as the game unfolded, and Shane McGrath’s contribution proved pivotal landing the match-levelling two pointer in the final seconds.
There will be aspects for management to ponder, falling heavily behind to both Mayo and Kerry is not a sustainable habit and is definitely one that will need eradicating going forward. But the resolve shown in testing circumstances will greatly encourage Joyce and his backroom team.
Several individuals have demonstrated that they have much to offer come championship. Now the task is clear: finish the league strongly and, if possible, secure a place in the final. Then attention will turn towards championship with fresher faces capable of drawing upon plenty of senior inter-county experience.
