Galway open their senior hurling campaign when they take on Antrim at Casement Park, Belfast on Saturday next at 3.30pm.

INSPIRATION... Galway captain Ollie Canning will look to lead by example on his return to championship hurling. PHOTO: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

This will be familiar territory for a Galway side that will be expected to win with ease. Galway also played Antrim in last year's championship, winning convincingly on a scoreline of 2-31 to 1-9. The sides' previous championship meeting was in 2005 which Galway also won by 3-29 to 0-10. Some will expect a similar result on Saturday, but Galway will have to play with caution.

Sambo McNaugton has given long and dedicated service to the Antrim jersey as a player and will have his side primed to upset the Tribesmen. Antrim have a strong hurling tradition and it's their pride that keeps the game alive against all the odds in the northern hurling enclaves.

Setting out on this season's campaign, Ger Loughnane knows that anything other than an All-Ireland final appearance could have Galway hurling supporters clamouring for his head. When he took over the Galway job, Loughnane admitted that anything other than an All-Ireland title in two years would be regarded as a failure. Well Ger, this is it, the start of the second campaign to bring the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Galway after a lapse of twenty years.

Question marks still stand over many positions on the Galway team. The Tribesmen had a good league campaign but then fell badly short when they played Tipperary in the final. Full-back has been a major problem for some time and while Shane Kavanagh has been given the number three jersey in recent challenge games, a leg injury casts a doubt over his availability for this first-round clash.

Galway also have problems around the midfield area and these were further compounded when Sarsfields' Kevin Hynes sustained a broken jaw in a recent club game. Hynes was fitting into the Galway team well and his loss will be severely felt.

At least Galway have been boosted this year by the presence of the Canning brothers Ollie and Joe. Ollie has given sterling service at club and county level over many years and while it came as a surprise to many to see him named as captain this year, Loughnane would be well aware of his leadership ability on and off the field.

Joe is still a rookie at this level but has gained tremendous experience despite his tender years. His presence on the edge of the square adds substantially to Galway's attacking threat.

The winners of Sunday's encounter will play Laois in the qualifiers while the losers will take on Waterford. But, in a way, it's a no-win game for Galway.

If Galway only just win, supporters will be saying they are no good and if they cakewalk the game, they will say the opposition was no good.

But regardless of what supporters think, the team and management must stay focussed on the job. It could be the start of a glorious campaign. Only time will tell.

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