Anthony Cunningham has secured the total commitment of dual player Daithi Burke and he will line out exclusively for the Galway hurlers this summer.
The Corofin midfielder who was part of last month's All-Ireland club winning team in Croke Park has confirmed to the Irish Times that while he has been approached to join the Galway footballers this summer he has opted to concentrate solely on playing hurling at intercounty level.
The 22-year-old started at wing back in all of Galway's hurling championship games last summer, although he also appeared as a substitute for the footballers against both Mayo and Tipperary following the exit of Cunningham's team in July.
It had been anticipated that off-the-back of the club success he may look to play both hurling and football in the upcoming championships, although it’s well known in the county that hurling would be his preferred code if a choice had to be made.
From captaining the Galway Under-16 footballers Burke has represented his county in both codes at every grade. He won a minor hurling All-Ireland in 2009, in 2010 he joined the football squad after the hurlers were beaten and was brought on after 20 minutes in that year’s All-Ireland minor semi final defeat.
In 2013 he also won an Under 21 football All-Ireland from centre back, which would be his most natural position while playing with the bigger ball.
Along with his brother Ronan, also a regular on last year’s Galway hurling team, Burke plays his hurling with the Turloughmore club whom he represented at full back on last year’s Galway club All Star selection.
It's believed that while football manager Kevin Walsh was open to the idea of facilitating the player's dual ambitions, Cunningham was not as interested in entertaining the balancing act.
Therefore from that victorious Corofin panel only Gary Sice, Liam Silke and Michael Lundy are now training with the Galway panel. Kieran McGrath, Ronan Steede and Micharel Farragher are among those who were expected to also be involved.
Burke says he will continue to play football with Corofin this summer.
