Galway or Cork for the Cup? Hogan Stand asks former Galway star player and erstwhile manager Noel Lane for his views. Former Galway senior hurling team-manager Noel Lane reckons Cork will have their work cut out to stop the Liam McCarthy Cup being brought across the Shannon this year. That said, he maintains that John Allen's men still remain favourites to regain the blue riband title. "They're favourites in most people's books and I wouldn't disagree with that assessment. "Certainly I feel Galway will have to at least perform as well as they did against Kilkenny or maybe even 10 per cent better if they are to get their hands on the McCarthy Cup. "But I think there's little doubt that Galway have the potential to shock Cork in the final." As he looks forward to the September 11th decider, the former star player and erstwhile county supremo talks with the sort of passion and fluidity that marked his performances in times past in his beloved maroon and white. It's obvious that he'd dearly love to see Conor Hayes' men triumph against the odds once again just like they did with remarkable vim and vigour against the Cats at the penultimate stage of the competition. With every optimistic note comes a note of caution though as he sizes up the task facing his county colleagues. "It's a big ask for Galway having to step it up even from the semi-final and considering that we can expect Cork to improve another 20 per cent from their semi-final with Clare." Interestingly, Noel doesn't have any truck with the suggestion that by dint of their explosive display against Kilkenny, the Tribesmen have shown their hand and Cork will hardly be caught cold on finals day. "It didn't take the Kilkenny game to show how pacy, skilful and hunger this Galway team is. "All the players have a high level of skill and no team will probably recognise that more than Cork. "They know the players they're coming up against and you can bet your bottom dollar that by the morning of the final all the Cork players will know their opposite number inside out." The always approachable Lane has been hugely impressed by the current Galway team. Noel talks about the players as having "turned the corner." He reckons "there's a great blend, a great balance about the team." And yet he constantly harps back to his deep belief that Galway need to hit all the high notes at all the right times if they are to overcome Cork. Potential is one thing but the fulfillment of that potential on the day that really matters is another, he alludes. The one-time boss would love to see Conor Hayes drive his men just bit further north on the medal podium than he managed to do in 2001 when All-Ireland final defeat was ultimately the name of the game for his spirited Galway panel. Cork will represent an even more stern test than Kilkenny though, he warns. "Although Galway's semi-final was very entertaining, I thought it was a fairly flat match. In my opinion, the Cork backs are better than the Kilkenny backs, the two midfields - Kilkenny and Cork - are about even but Galway's forwards may be that bit sharper. "It could all boil down to which set of forwards shine the best on the day, whoever performs on the day." A bit of luck wouldn't go astray either? "Certainly not. "Very often when teams are fairly evenly matched, the team that gets the rub of the green come out on top." Any other variables that could work the oracle for one team or the other? "Well we see referees having an increasingly influential role in how a game goes. "I know from experience how decisions can make or break a team's effort to win a big match but Seamus Roche is a good ref and he has been appointed on merit. " I've no problem with him doing the match. I hope and trust that he'll be fair and neutral. "But while he is an excellent referee, he's still human. "I'm happy that he's in charge in the final but I just wonder why the ref appointed is from Munster and not from Ulster or Leinster. "I wish Seamus the best of luck and hope that he has a good game." All the time though Noel Lane's belief that a good performance from Galway will not be good enough seeps through to soak the conversation. As for the final itself, he's not so sure whether it will be a good or a great affair. What he is fairly sure about though is that the eagerly-awaited decider will be a different ball game compared to the Galway-Kilkenny clash of a few weeks ago. "The game against Kilkenny was an open, end-to-end match and a real exhibition of flowing hurling. "I think the final will be a lot tighter. Galway will need to draw on all their different strengths. "I'm hoping that the defence will be more compact than they were against Kilkenny. "I'd like to see them play a safer game and that our midfield and forwards - who are very skilful and pacy - can stretch the Cork defence, especially down through the middle." In looking to the final, the popular and respected Galway hurling mentor draws confidence from the way Cork laboured to defeat Clare in their semi-final clash in assessing just how the Connachtmen might once again upset the apple cart. "For all Cork's experience and team-work, Clare really shook them up and came very close to pulling off a shock but Cork remain very strong defensively." Will Cork's experience count double given Galway's youth and inexperience? "I hope not. "People mightn't realise that eleven or twelve of the Galway team played in the 2001 All-Ireland final and that experience will be of huge benefit. "The fact that so many of those players have already played on the biggest stage will count a lot. "And the same players have also played at the highest level at minor and under 21 levels. "The current senior team has already been to Croke Park twice but there's no denying that for such a young team, the final will be a big step-up." Noel believes that Galway won't lack confidence going into the final "because of their display against Kilkenny and their finish against Tipperary." Like so many hurling afficionados way out west, Noel has welcomed the evolution of Galway from one largely perceived as a team of individuals to one playing like a true team. He has welcomed the return of the fans in big numbers too. "In previous years, the supporters in the county have possibly been a bit negative but now they're talking positive and they've smiles on their faces again. "The support the team has been getting recently has been excellent and I'm sure it'll continue right up to the final." In terms of what might be the best piece of artillery in Cork's war chest, Noel fingers their half-back line without any hesitation. "If the Cork half-back line is allowed to dominate and link up with likes of Niall McCarthy in the half-forward line, Galway could find themselves in real trouble. "Galway would then have to really upp the ante and play out of their skins to keep in touch." Noel doesn't hide his admiration for either the Galway players or the backroom staff and he doesn't begin to underestimate the ability of both camps to overcome the odds and bag a much-needed, long-awaited Liam McCarthy Cup triumph. "Conor Hayes is a very shrewd manager and he won't leave any stone unturned in preparing to take on Cork. "But the Galway players will have to play as close to the peak of their game as possible to beat Cork. "That's possible and they've shown the kind of potential they have so hopefully everything will click into place on the day." Tweet

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