Galway hurling, not for the first time, stands at a crossroads.
Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Clare at Semple Stadium is yet another defining game for the Tribesemen.
Since their loss to Kilkenny in the Leinster final, there has been some murmurings of discontent within the county. Former manager and RTÉ pundit Ger Loughnane, however, let his feelings be known publicly when he described Galway as "gutless" following their second-half showing against the Cats three weeks' ago.
He also questioned their "mental fragility" as they in consecutive championship games failed to kick on when in a strong position against Brian Cody’s side.
Loughnane’s comments have been dismissed by many in the Galway hurling family. However, former Tribes boss John McIntyre believes such negative comments can help to inspire the team against the Banner.
“Some of the more severe criticism is bound to be a motivation for the players,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“Hopefully it will help the team to have the necessary resolve if the game is in the melting pot in the last 15 or 20 minutes.”
To that end, McIntyre believes that Galway must hurl for the entire 70 minutes on Sunday next if they are to set up another All-Ireland semi-final date with Tipperary.
“Galway are going to have to hit the ground running and will have to maintain their intensity for the entire 70 minutes,” he said.
“I don't think Clare have been as cohesive this year despite their win record as they were in 2013.
"That said, It's a winnable game for both counties and both are best equipped to undermine the general expectation that we are going to have a Kilkenny-Tipperary final."
Tellingly, McIntyre, in looking ahead to this quarter-final, believes that Galway have the wherewithal to bounce back and lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
“They have the potential to win an All-Ireland this year, despite all the negativity about the side lacking bottle and not having the stomach for battle when it's do or die,” he added.
“A lot of the players have minor and U-21 medals. They've been knocking on the door for a big breakthrough in the senior championship over the last few years.
"I haven't lost faith in this Galway team. I still believe in them. If they could get over Clare on Sunday, I think that would be a massive hurdle for them to overcome.
“Okay, their recent record against Clare in the championship isn't great and, notwithstanding the big win over Cork last year, Semple Stadium has been a bit of a graveyard for Galway.
“But if they could stop the Banner bandwagon in Thurles on Sunday, Galway are capable of anything later on in the campaign.
“Galway are one of those teams that can explode almost overnight.”
Joe Canning has been an talismanic figure for the Galway senior side since 2008 and his former manager believes that Portumna clubman needs to shine above everybody else at Semple Stadium this weekend.
“We need to see a massive performance from Joe Canning against Clare.
"For several years Joe has been the shining light in the Galway attack and had many outstanding matches. Then we had the emergence of Jason Flynn, Cathal Mannion, Jonathan Glynn and David Burke.
"I'm not saying that Joe Canning retreated into his shell, maybe he shared the responsibility more.
"Joe now needs to step out from the pack on Sunday and take the game by the scruff of the neck. A goal from Canning is nearly worth two in the context of a Galway performance.
"He's a real crowd-pleaser. The Galway supporters like him and admire but he needs to produce a big one on Sunday and I certainly hope he does."
Watch live coverage of Clare v Galway on RTÉ Two and the RTÉ Player from 1.30pm on Sunday 24 July. Watch highlights of all the weekend's action on RTÉ Two from 9.30pm.
