Galway chair Frank Burke has defended his county's stance on declining to enter the Leinster senior hurling championship and defended the overall state of the game in what has been widely seen as a disappointing season to date.
The idea of absorbing the county into the provincial structure with a view to reviving a flagging competition was offered as an option by the Hurling Development Committee over two years ago.
According to Burke, the county was emphatically opposed - although Conor Hayes, manager of the senior hurlers, was in favour of the proposal.
"The decision was taken by the clubs, who considered the idea at a meeting and were virtually 95 per cent opposed to it," said Burke.
"The experience in Munster (where Galway's hurlers competed between 1959 and 1967) wasn't positive, and the feeling was that this offer was not attractive."
The idea came back into focus at the weekend after a one-sided Leinster final between Kilkenny and Wexford and Galway's defeat by Waterford in the All-Ireland qualifiers, which they enter without the advantage of a competitive provincial match under their belt, unlike last Sunday's opponents, who lost a Munster semi-final to Tipperary.
But, according to Burke, the county is happy with the current structure.
"We don't see it as our role to prop up the Leinster championship. We're very happy with the current system. It was disappointing not to win on Sunday, but we've no complaints. Galway didn't have a good league and to an extent we paid the price for that."
On a practical level, Galway also feared that having to enter a championship in a different province where the county would have no real influence on its administration would be to risk havoc with its internal organisation.
"Another issue that influenced the decision was the potential impact on local fixtures. We have a very successful club championship, which operates on a league basis, with everyone getting four games. You only have to look at the number of Galway clubs that have won the All-Ireland to understand that we would be anxious to protect that."
Burke also cited the disastrous experience of the county in being absorbed by Munster over 40 years ago in an attempt to end Galway's isolation. During that time, one win over Clare was the extent of their success.
"Provincial championships aren't heaven on earth," he said. "We found that in Munster, where we had one win in nine years."
As for the bigger picture, he believes there is too much pessimism about the hurling championship, which he maintains is as competitive as it has been over the decades.
"I think hurling is being analysed to death. It's as good now as it ever was and with just as broad a spread. Teams might be at a low ebb, but they'll be back. We've had lows over the years, so have Tipperary. It happens, but the hurling is there and the clubs are there. It's a matter of setting up the right structures."
One element of the qualifiers he would like to change is the presence of weaker counties, who, he fears, are being set back by the inevitable series of heavy beatings they take in the MacCarthy Cup.
"Some teams are being subjected to severe defeats and that's not good for morale. There should be some sort of protective filter in the championship."
Galway's final group match sees them play Westmeath this coming weekend. Victory will confirm the county's place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, albeit as a runner-up and therefore having to play champions Cork or Kilkenny.
Meanwhile, also in Galway, reserve football goalkeeper Brian O'Donoghue was at the centre of a scare on Sunday when playing for his club Claregalway against Clonbur.
After an accidental collision in the goalmouth, O'Donoghue had to be kept still and the match delayed for 45 minutes while he was stabilised and taken from Tuam Stadium by ambulance to University College Hospital, Galway.
Yesterday, it was revealed his neck injury hadn't been serious, but that he suffered concussion that would keep him out of the panel for Sunday week's Connacht final against Mayo.
His place is likely to go to Tuam Stars outfield player Paul Doherty, who played the full match in a recent challenge against Kerry.
Venues and times for next weekend's All-Ireland qualifier matches in football and hurling were confirmed yesterday.
A request by Wexford's footballers to have their match with Monaghan postponed - in recognition of the fortnight's delay they were subjected to when the Leinster semi-final was held up because of the "six replacements" controversy surrounding their opponents Offaly - was refused.
The double-bill at Portlaoise on Saturday evening is all-ticket.
WEEKEND SHC & SFC QUALIFIERS
Saturday
SHC Qualifiers - Round Three: Laois v Waterford, Portlaoise, 3.45pm; Galway v Westmeath, Galway, 7pm; Limerick v Dublin, Limerick, 7.30pm; Clare v Offaly, Ennis, 7.30pm. SFC Qualifiers - Round Two: Monaghan v Wexford, Clones, 4.30pm; Clare v Fermanagh, Ennis, 5.30pm; Laois v Tyrone, Portlaoise, 5.30pm.
Sunday
SFC Qualifier - Round Two: Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.30pm.
