Cyril Farrell is not content with the Galway minor hurlers finally being able to play in the Leinster championship. He'd like to see another step taken in the county's hurling association with Leinster.
"I think it's great and it would be great to see the club champions going in as well," said Galway legend Farrell, who on Friday night was inducted into the Gaelic Writers Association Hall of Fame.
"It would make it harder on our champions but it's only fair, you can't have it every way. It would help that the Galway championship would have to be run off much quicker too so that champions could play in Leinster."
Since Farrell led Galway to three All-Irelands in the 80s, the county has added just the 2017 title to their list of Liam MacCarthy victories. Last year, in their first season with Henry Shefflin as manager, Galway pushed eventual champions Limerick all the way in the All-Ireland semi-final.
'The best 15 hurlers in Galway may not make the best team'
"I'd say the county will be patient because there have been games we got hammered in and there wasn't a word about it," said Farrell.
"Henry has got a good advantage this year, he's in all last year, he has seen all the club championship the last season a big help. Fitzgibbon is over so everyone will be available now in these weeks. The big thing is to clear up the injuries.
"If you saw the club championships, you could have five or six of the same kind of player not making the panel. The problem Henry has is that there are 35 or 40, most of a similar standard. It's to get the right pieces, like a jigsaw to put the right pieces together. That's the difficult thing. The best 15 hurlers in Galway may not make the best team. It's to get that balance.
"They are a physical side. It will be interesting to see if David Burke makes it this year. He is moving on but he is still a great leader. They are as strong as anyone, maybe not Limerick, they're the benchmark but you won't have to worry about them if you won a Leinster title.
"Presuming they win Munster it would be a final before you meet them and if you get that far, then you are on a roll."
24 February 2023; Personality of the Year recipient, Kilkenny camogie player Grace Walsh at the Gaelic Writers’ Association Awards, supported by EirGrid, which took place at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Gaelic Writers’ Association Awards for 2022, supported by EirGrid
Football Personality of the Year – Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
Ladies Football Personality of the Year – Emma Duggan (Meath)
Hurling Personality of the Year – TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Camogie Personality of the Year – Grace Walsh (Kilkenny)
Football Hall of Fame – Willie Bryan (Offaly)
Ladies Football Hall of Fame – Mary Jo Curran (Kerry)
Hurling Hall of Fame – Cyril Farrell (Galway)
Camogie Hall of Fame – Linda Mellerick (Cork)
PRO of the Year – Padraig McKeon (Sligo)
Lifetime Achievement Award – Brian Carthy (RTE)
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