Galway outclassed by the clinical cats

DESPITE dishing out some famous defeats to Kilkenny during the Brian Cody era — something they always seem to return with plenty of interest — Galway only fleetingly threatened to add to that list as the Cats picked up their 70th Leinster title with the minimum fuss at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
There was something of a buzz back in Galway hurling this year after wins over Dublin and Laois, even allowing for the performance of the opposition in those matches, and this tussle was always going to be the true barometer of that progress.
On the evidence of a seven-point defeat that Galway contested vigorously and couldn’t have any quibbles with the result, they still have a road to travel both in terms of reaching the lofty standards set by the reigning All-Ireland champions and contending at the sharp end of the season.
They now have three weeks to regroup and get things back on track for a meeting with one of Cork, Clare or Limerick at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.