Galway manager Micheal Donoghue.
By Cian O’Connell
Micheal Donoghue will continue to afford youngsters a chance to shine in Galway’s upcoming Allianz Hurling League Division 1B clashes with Dublin and Limerick.
On Sunday against Offaly at Pearse Stadium Galway started with nine of their All Ireland winning team with several emerging players contributing handsomely in the Salthill success.
Shane Cooney and Sean Loftus were among those to impress for the Tribesmen according to Donoghue. “They did, yeah, and we have to use the League to give the younger lads and new lads on the panel an opportunity,” Donoghue admits.
“For the remainder of the League we are going to continue to do that. When they get the opportunity they have to take it. The two boys alluded to did well.
“We are happy enough, it is another two points on the board. Overall it was a better performance than the last two, but the lads have worked hard for the last two weeks. We now go into another week's training and look forward to the Dublin game.”
Donoghue was satisfied with how Galway dealt with Offaly’s challenge. “I think we started well with our use of the ball and probably getting Cathal (Mannion) into the game. We finished okay and we started the second half with 1-1 or 1-2 which probably put a bit of light in it.
“We had two hard weeks and were very mindful coming into the games that there might be a bit of tiredness there. The attitude of the players was a big step up and over the next few weeks I know the hurling will improve so we are going in the right direction.”
Next weekend Galway travel to Parnell Park to face Dublin and then the maroon outfit host Limerick in Salthill on March 4. “They are going to be two huge challenges,” Donoghue acknowledges.
