TRIBE STAR HAS NEW GOALS
JOHNNY COEN says Galway are gunning for a 70-minute performance after their second half lapse against Kilkenny.
Having led the Leinster final replay earlier this month by 12 points at one stage, Galway saw their advantage cut to a single point in the second half before pulling away to win by seven in the end.
They return to action in the All-ireland semi-final on Saturday against Clare at Croke Park, the counties having not met at this stage of the summer since 1995.
Midfielder Coen said: “We weren’t happy with our performance at all the first day [against Kilkenny] in Croke Park. As players, we feel we have a lot to give.
“There’s an awful lot in our locker in terms of our strength and physicality and all of that, and it’s about bringing out a performance in 70 minutes.
“If you look back over the last three years when Galway were playing in semi-finals, there has only been a point in it and that point has been scored in injury time.
“If you can’t sustain the level of aggression and the level of hurling for the full 70 minutes, you are not really going to progress to the All-ireland.
“The first 20 minutes [of the replay against Kilkenny] was electric alright but the concession of the goal before half time and the concession of the two [in the second half]… There were stages there in the second half
Kilkenny really got the run on us and we were just lucky really the lads [that] came on got a few points there and we sealed victory in the end.”
Galway and Cork are the only two unbeaten sides left but defending champions’ have often found semi-finals the most difficult obstacle to clear. That may be especially true for Galway having ended a 29-year drought without an All-ireland last year.
Coen added: “I don’t know, you are growing up as a young fella dreaming about winning an All-ireland like. When the dream was achieved, you are saying why can’t you do it again? Why would you be happy with just the one?”
Why would you be happy with just one (All-ireland)?