Burke gunning for Wexford

David Burke says Galway have been itching to avenge their league defeat to Wexford since February.

Davy Fitzgerald's side beat Galway 1-21 to 3-13 at Pearce Stadium in the second round of their Division 1B campaign on their way to promotion to Division 1A, and Galway captain Burke sees Sunday's Leinster SHC final at Croke Park as an opportunity for the best kind of revenge, by claiming the Bob O'Keeffe Cup.

 "A lot of lads wanted to get Wexford again. Not Kilkenny. We wanted to get another crack at them again," Burke said.

"We knew they were coming. Lads were brought back into the squad for that particular game.

"It wasn't as if we were being naïve and gave them no respect. We gave them all the respect we could, and we were ready for it.

"Put it down to whatever training we were doing. I don't know. We just went flat on the day in the second half.

"We had a five-point lead and let it slip at the end. Wexford showed massive hunger that day, and just frustrated us."

Two years ago, Burke questioned Galway's fight and lack of leadership amid the player revolt that eventually saw Anthony Cunningham resign as manager in November 2015.

Now, the 27-year-old says the panel is the Tribesmen's strongest since he began playing inter-county football in 2010, a spell that includes two All-Ireland finals in 2012 and 2015.

"Whether we can get over the line in a pressurised situation still has to be seen," the St Thomas clubman said. 

"In this respect, Sunday's Leinster final will be a telling factor to see if we have really developed [our leadership skills] or not.

"What I will say is that this is the best Galway team I have been on since I made my debut in 2010.

"When I came into the panel in 2010, I just felt that maybe there was maybe a small bit of leadership or trust lacking that time.

"Our hurling has never been questioned, it's just really when the battle and the hard ball needs to be won.

 "Can this team do it? We have the tools to do it now. It's just a matter of proving it."

Galway (Leinster SHC final v Wexford - Croke Park Throw in 16:00): Colm Callanan; Adrian Touhy, Daithi Burke, John Hanbury; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Johnny Coen, David Burke; Niall Burke, Joe Canning, Joseph Cooney; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion.

Wexford: : Mark Fanning; Willie Devereux, Liam Ryan, James Breen; Simon Donohoe, Matthew O'Hanlon, Diarmuid O'Keeffe; Shaun Murphy, Aidan Nolan; Jack O'Connor, Lee Chin, Conor McDonald; Paul Morris, Jack Gibney, Harry Kehoe.

Image: Inpho/Mike Shaughnessy

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