Rising Galway star David Burke believes he made the "right call" by delaying his championship debut by a year.

Like Joe Canning before him, Burke decided to hold off on senior hurling for 12 months after featuring on the Galway minor team for three years. And this evening, he will make his much-anticipated Leinster SHC bow at midfield against Wexford.

"The seniors were on to me last year and I went in to play a few trial games with them," he explained.

"They were onto me to join then after that. But I said I'd leave it for a year and take a break from it. I'd been hurling three years minor and I said I'd wait. I played U21 alright but it wasn't as demanding as the senior. I think it was the right call."

Burke formed a solid midfield partnership with Ger Farragher in the latter stages of Galway's successful NHL campaign, and is looking forward to lining out beside him again in Nowlan Park tonight.

"The gameplan we play this year suits myself and Ger. He is super to be alongside with his striking of the ball and his reading of the game."

Hailing from the St. Thomas' club in Kilchreest, Burke not surprisingly cites club colleague Richie Murray (who played in the 2001 All-Ireland final as a 19-year-old) as having a major influence on him.

"We used to go training together back in January but then Richie decided that he wasn't able anymore.

"He has given 10 years hard commitment to Galway hurling. He's still hurling away with the club and is a good lad to give advice. I'm just glad to be involved now, but there's good competition for the midfield places with guys like Eoin Lynch and Niall Cahalan. I have it now for the Wexford game and I'm going to try to hold onto it," he added. Tweet

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