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Galway's Andy Smith. INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
GAA

Andy Smith on Cork's relegation, Galway's underdogs tag and inter-county midfield play

The Galway midfielder is gearing up for Sunday’s Allianz league semi-final clash with Kilkenny.

TWELVE MONTHS AGO they were battling for survival in the league.

It took a replay in the relegation final against Dublin in Portlaoise before Galway confirmed their Division 1A status for 2013.

That game was the precursor for a successful summer as the Tribesmen lifted the Leinster hurling crown for the first time.

And they took Kilkenny to a replay in September’s All-Ireland final showdown.

It is the Cats who Galway cross paths with again next Sunday as they entertain thoughts of league hurling silverware.

The teams meet at the Division 1 semi-final stage and here’s the thoughts of Galway midfielder Andy Smith.

Galway 2012 v Galway 2013…

“Last year we were fighting relegation, against Dublin. This year we’’re in a league semi-final. I don’’t know are we in a better place, but I think we’’ve brought on a few younger players like Davy Glennon and Conor Cooney.

“I think that’ (relegation final last year) is where we got our championship team from. You learn so much in tight battles.

“Look at Iarla Tannion, sort of by default, he got to play at midfield against Dublin the first day in Tullamore.

“He came on and gave an exhibition, and nailed down that midfield spot. Iarla’s a massive man. Once he gets the ball on the hurl, he has big strong strides, he’s very hard to get away from. ”

Preferring the tag of underdog to favourites

“I think Galway favour the underdogs tag. It brings the best out in us. Nobody gives us a chance, backs to the wall and I think the true colours come through.

“We never are favourites going into a game if you look at it.  I think it’s a whole west of the Shannon psyche.

“I don’t know what it is with senior set ups with Galway, we just never seem to kick on and grind out results, which we should be capable of doing.”

Cork’s relegation

“It’s a shock to see Cork going down. I don’t know if it’s the right campaign there are only six teams in Division 1A. I think there should be more and I’d even scrap the earlier competitions.

“If you look at the league this year we only got to blood maybe four extra players and even the likes of Kilkenny did the same.

“It is so competitive and so intense that you can’t afford to try out players in a sense. I think that’s wrong. The league should be there to bring on younger players.”

Andy Smith in action against Cork last year.
Pic: INPHO/Colm O’Neill

Last year’s league hammering against Kilkenny…

“April Fools Day. We got humiliated that day down in Nowlan Park. There was a lot of soul searching after. Training wasn’t too pleasant the Tuesday night after that hiding.

“That day we were dead on our feet. We didn’t battle at all with Kilkenny and if you don’t you’ll just get wiped off the field.

“You have to regroup and as they say, you learn an awful lot from your losses too.”

Difference between midfield at inter-county level v club level…

“With the inter-county you get on the ball more. I don’t know how that is but club is sort of tight and it can bypass you a lot more. You’ve to make a lot of deep runs within club.

“But in inter-county I wouldn’t say you have more intelligent players but they’ll find you with a pass even better and you can get into the game a bit more.”

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