David Burke will remain as Galway senior hurling captain for 2018 and seek to become the first from the county in 30 years to lead the maroon and white to back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
Galway captain David Burke will receive a mini replica of the Liam MacCarthy Cup tonight. Lovely touch from the GAA pic.twitter.com/D8zu7K0vuM
— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) December 22, 2017
Manager Micheal Donoghue confirmed that the St. Thomas’ midfielder will resume his captain’s responsibilities when he returns to action following a knee injury.
“Davy is still captain,” said Donoghue to John Fallon in the Irish Examiner. “But he’s probably a few weeks away. There are a few lads carrying knocks but we’ve stressed to the squad that lad will be getting opportunities and hopefully lads will put up their hands.”
Conor Hayes (1987, 1988) was the last Galway man to raise the McCarthy Cup two years in succession while Enda Colleran did it with the footballers in 1965 and 1966.
Galway opened the National League campaign with a 1-19 to 1-16 victory over Antrim in Pearse Stadium with debutant Brian Concannon netting a crucial first half goal before a Conor McCann major nearly set the Saffrons up for a shock.
Donoghue, whose team face Laois this Saturday (3rd February, 7pm Portlaoise), fielded only six of his All-Ireland winning team though he did introduce three more in the final stages. But the manager will watch closely to see if others like Concannon can stake a regular claim.
“The learning curve for us is that we know now that that is going to happen every week and we have to be ready,” added the Clarinbridge man. “Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll get some more of the established guys back but there is an opportunity there for others.”
#ThrowbackThursday to the PwC All Stars trip where Galway captain David Burke, was passing on his top tips to the next generation! #GAA #GPA pic.twitter.com/dKCSbBZFZE
— GAA/GPA (@GAAGPA) December 21, 2017
