High praise for the Galway man.
After an emphatic 16-point win over Tipperary at the weekend, Galway were crowned champions of the Allianz Hurling League. It was the county’s first league title in seven years and the victory announced the Tribesmen as serious league contenders.
Every good team has serious backbone though and Galway’s impressive defence was only showed off more as they kept a clean sheet in the 3-21 to 0-14 victory.
In that pack, lies one of the finest backs in the country and, speaking on The GAA Hour, former Hurler of the Year JJ Delaney revealed who he believes is the Ireland’s very best full back.
“Full back and centre back as we know for Galway over the last seven or ten years has been their problem,” the Kilkenny legend said.
“They always had a full back but never a centre back then always a centre back and never had a full back.
“But these two (Daithi Burke and Gearoid McInerney) seem to be holding down the positions and Daithi Burke at full back, he’s the best full back out there at the moment and he showed yesterday what he could do. He’s very strong in the air and he likes attacking the ball and he’s very strong too.”
Burke is just 24 years old but has become one of Galway’s key players over the last two years, scooping up consecutive All-Star awards and has truly grown into the fullback role.
His side had the best defence of any team in the league, conceding just 4-74 across their five games and will be looking to carry their form into the summer as they look to bring home their first All-Ireland in 29 years.
Burke and Galway will next line out against Dublin in the Leinster Hurling Championship at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on May 28.
You can listen to JJ Delaney talk about Burke below from 31:00
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