*Ian Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
IAN GALVIN would have a cause to be frustrated with the lack of game time he has received in this year’s championship but he’s quick to point out that the competition for places has been central to Clare’s run this season.
Galvin was arguably Clonlara’s best player last season and one of the top players in the club championship when Donal Madden’s side claimed the Canon Hamilton for the first time since 2008.
However in the county colours, Ian has yet to start a championship game in 2024. He has picked off crucial scores including a point off the bench in Clare’s last outing, a three point win against Tipperary.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Ian stated, “It’s great to be in a Munster final again, that’s where we wanted to be since the start of the year”.
“It was never going to be easy against Tipperary. This is our first time beating them in a number of years. Every single match in the Munster championship is difficult. We were under no illusions coming here but that it was going to be a tough game and that’s what it was”, the skillful forward added.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Munster final he noted “games between Clare and Limerick have been very tight. In our meetings in finals in recent years we haven’t got over the line. That is something we are going to have to rectify if we are to beat the best that is there at present”.
Galvin believes that the competition for places is key to the progress the team has made in recent times. “It’s not just the twenty that are used on match days, there are twenty six on the panel for each game and there is another fifteen pushing to get into that group. That’s where it needs to be and I presume that is the same with any successful team, everyone pushing everyone and making each other better every day. There is no one going along just for the ride”.
Having lined out with many of the Limerick team such as Cian Lynch and Mike Casey during his time as a student in Ard Scoil Rís, Ian is well aware of the talent at the disposal of their neighbours.
“Our total focus is on Limerick now. We have to keep the performances coming. It’s eight weeks to the All-Ireland final and we have a maximum of four games left if we are to get that far. We want to take the shortest route and by winning the Munster final we will get a break. The focus is very much on Limerick and next week’s meeting,” he concluded.
