*Cian Galvin strikes under pressure. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARECASTLE’s Cian Galvin is five years on the county senior hurling panel but is still considered one of the ‘new kids on the block’ on the starting team.
That he would be called up to the team was never in doubt as far as followers of the game in the county are concerned. He first came to prominence when playing at juvenile level with his club, going on to impress at college level with St. Flannan’s College where he captained them to win the Dr Harty Cup in 2020.
He earned a call to the Clare minor panel and from there went on to represent Clare at under 20 level while also impressing in third level college competitions with University of Limerick.
This led to a call up to the senior panel and this year he has got a lot of game time in what is his fifth year on the panel. He lined out at wing back in both the league semi-final and final victories over Tipperary and Kilkenny respectively.
Galvin is fighting to retain his spot at wing back for the first round of the Munster SHC when Clare welcome All-Ireland champions Limerick to Cusack Park.
He maintained that Clare must back up their league success by defeating John Kiely’s charges. “This success will be quickly forgotten if we don’t perform against Limerick next week. They are four in a row champions for a reason and when they come to town next week the full focus will be on them”.
Cian continued, “the Allianz league is a great competition and loads of lads have got valuable game time this season which has helped greatly. Hopefully we can all continue that form into the Munster championship”.
As one of the players battling to make his starting championship debut, Cian is well aware of the competition for places in the squad. “There is savage competition for places in the starting fifteen. It’s a very healthy environment which is good. There are several players putting their hands up for selection each day”.
He believes and one of the reasons for their winning run this season is that their approach has been to focus on the next game. “That’s the way it is going to continue and right now the whole focus is on Limerick”.
“Everyone is looking forward” to the meeting of Clare and Limerick both within and outside of the panel, the UL student noted.
