Former Galway hurler David Burke says Leinster final is massive for both teams
Michael Bolton
Former Galway hurler David Burke has stressed the importance of Saturday's Leinster final for both Galway and Dublin.
For Galway, they have impressed so far this season, with a convincing win over Kilkenny helping them reach the provincial final, as they aim for their first Leinster success since 2018.
Their opponents, Dublin, defeated Galway in the dying seconds to claim a dramatic victory in the round-robin stage, as they look to follow up a strong 2025 with their first Leinster title since 2013.
Often in the shadow of the Munster championship, the shock exit of Kilkenny has helped revive interest and excitement in Leinster, in what Burke can only see as a good thing for the sport.
"It has been a great Leinster championship in fairness. We have just become so accustomed to the Munster games being unbelievable well, but I don't think it has been unreal this year.
"It is hard to know where the two teams are going into the Munster final, and Clare are at. In terms of Leinster, there have been some great matches.
"For Offaly, it is great for them to get through. Wexford are in a bit of transition, and Kildare did quite well is a lot of the matches; they probably found that step up a bit tough going.
"Kilkenny going out is a bit of a shock. I found they weren't going that well, but everyone in the country probably thought there was going to be a performance in them."
Kilkenny dominance
With Kilkenny's dominance in Leinster over after six straight titles, the chance for silverware is there for Galway and Dublin.
Galway will have felt they could have won at least one of those finals, and a Leinster title would be a measure of how Dublin have progressed in the past couple of seasons.
With a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals also on the line, Burke is not underestimating what silverware would mean for both teams.
"I think it is absolutely massive for both teams. Dublin's was back in 2013; I don't imagine there is anyone that was on that panel.
"We have a couple of lads that were there in 2012, a couple more in 2017 and 2018, and a good few that have lost finals like Dublin.
"I think winning a trophy in Croke Park is huge for both teams. The kitchen sink will be thrown back at it from both management teams to try and get over the line.
"It is going to be a hugely tactical game, it always is, whether we play them in Parnell Park or Salthill."
Captain of the Galway side which ended their All-Ireland drought in 2017, along with winning three Leinster titles, Burke has been crucial to Galway's success through the years.
Despite everything he achieved in hurling, Burke feels like there were some missed opportunities for Galway during his time, having seen how small the margins are on the biggest stage.
"We were knocking on the door quite a bit for those years. We lost All-Irelands, which probably stood to us a little bit having that experience, all be it was negative, but the team was on a good trajectory.
"You need that bit of youth added every year. When we finally got over the line, there was huge pressure off. I felt we played our best hurling in 2018 when the new round-robin came in.
"Played quite a lot of matches and went unbeaten, and Limerick got us in the final. We only played the five matches in 2017, nine in 2018, and only lost one match in two years.
"We were consistently playing fairly well. You go into the following year, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Galway are all going well and everyone ends up on five points, and we get knocked out. Margins are so, so small.
"I think the round robin is a good championship overall; it has helped Galway. I think we would have been unhappy not winning more Leinster Championships from my point of view."
