NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE/Quarter-finals: Cyril Farrell and Conor Hayes feel there are reasons to be cheerful about Galway hurling, depite this week's damaging Alan Kerins affair. Keith Duggan reports

Last year's league semi-final drubbing by Tipperary signalled the end of Galway's faith in the league as championship preparation. Nicky English presciently warned that nothing of substance could be taken from the game. When the two sides met again in the All-Ireland final, Galway had evolved substantially, even if the end result was still the same.

Tomorrow's quarter-final is interesting. Having inevitably surrendered their year-long winning streak post-All-Ireland, Tipperary demonstrated a keenness for hurling again in the final quarter lesson they delivered to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last week. And for the first time, Galway are preparing for a June championship start and need not depend on prolonged league interest to stave off their traditional two-month period in limbo.

Trainer Mike McNamara probably brought a little of Clare's disinterest in the league across the border when he began training Galway, and their uneven form to date suggests that results are not a priority just now.

So is another blow out on the cards?

"I don't think so," says Cyril Farrell, the county's former manager turned media analyst. "No matter what was said last year, no team likes to get hockeyed and I would expect this Sunday to be much closer.

"There will be a change in emphasis in that everything is now geared towards the championship, but Galway have been competitive in each of the league games to date and I expect that to continue against Tipperary."

Unexpected as the All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny was, the subsequent final loss to Tipperary was troubling, narrow enough to permit poor luck as a plausible factor but comprehensive enough to convince that changes were merited.

The early season has already yielded a number. The unceremonious exit of last year's goalkeeper Michael Crimmins took many in the county aback. Noel Lane and his selectors have also devoted a lot of time examining the full-back position, studying Cathal Moore's progress there before restoring Michael Healy for tomorrow's match.

"I was surprised to see Cathal used there," admits Conor Hayes, Galway's exemplary gold-hemeted custodian of the small square during the Farrell era.

"He is a very stylish hurler, versatile and accomplished at centre half or wing back as he has shown. But he is not really a man-marker. So unless they are trying to develop him to play full back in the same way as Brian Lohan, out front and almost like a midfielder, I don't know. There was a time when it seemed that Liam Hodgins was being groomed for there but not at the moment.

"Diarmuid Cloonan might be an option there, he's a strong, dominant player. But I suppose since Peter Huban slipped back post-1996, they have used quite a number of players there."

Midfield has also been doctored, boosted by the return of Rory Gantley. Although the Murray/Tierney axis worked a dream against Kilkenny, it was exposed by Tipperary's Tommy Dunne and Eddie Enright on the big day last September.

"We were taken apart pretty badly that day," says Hayes. "The Kilkenny match was just one of those days when everything worked a dream, but the lightness of our midfield was exploited by Tipp.

"I think Richie Murray is better suited to wing forward, I think he will develop into a wonderful player there. Gantley is another fine hurler, but he is possibly of the same ilk as Tierney - pacy, light. We could do with a big anchor man, a solid presence. Most of the other teams that will challenge for the All-Ireland have that."

And what of Joe Rabbitte? Galway's lanky target man's wretched luck in the All-Ireland final was proof positive that the county can't buy a break. Used effectively off the bench in numerous league games, he starts again on Sunday, flanked by Eugene Cloonan and Fergal Healy.

"It's a fresh situation for Joe in that for the first time in a while he has had a break from hurling with Athenry," says Farrell. "While springing him in games is a definite option, Joe is only human in that he would prefer to be on the starting 15. And I think that the break he has had through the club will only benefit his game."

Both Farrell and Hayes believe that a real sense of optimism has returned to Galway hurling. However, the troubled departure of Alan Kerins, after an ultimatum about his dual allegiance to the footballers, has been a setback.

"The timing was what amazed most people," says Hayes. "I would have seen Alan as a potential midfield candidate with the hurlers - I have criticised his game in the past, but I do think he is a good hurler.

"His performance against Ballygunner in the club semi- final was outstanding. So I was surprised the selectors didn't wait until after the quarter-final at least to decide on the matter.

"There is no guarantee he is going to make it with the footballers. If he did, then a move might have been required. But it is an awkward situation for both Alan and Noel Lane."

Farrell is hopeful that the stand-off might be resolved before the serious business gets under way.

"It's forgotten now but John O'Mahony had a bit of trouble with players this time last year and that was sorted and he went on to win an All-Ireland. These things happen now and again and I don't think the situation is beyond some kind of resolution."

Galway fans would certainly hope so. As Hayes observes, the championship draw has a formidably open look to it.

"Of course it is a positive thing that Galway will have a number of games this year and that we aren't going in cold to a quarter or semi-final.

"But at the same time there is a natural tendency to regard the thing with some trepidation. It is really hard to envisage just what team we are going to be playing this year."

So what is the state of Galway hurling as they go into yet another league quarter-final? "Look, this team was only a puc of a ball away from an All-Ireland," says Farrell.

"There is not a whole lot wrong there. They are having a look at the positions of 'keeper and full back, yes. But you wouldn't get hung up on that. This is a good team, a young team. There is every reason to be happy."