Galway in better place for latest clash with Laois

FOR the third consecutive year, Galway and Laois go head to head in the Leinster championship. However, unlike the two previous outings, the Tribesmen venture into Saturday’s provincial semi-final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore (5pm) with real momentum.

Although Galway 2015 continue to be a work in progress, they have edged near what is arguably their strongest side in recent games. Colm Callanan cemented his place as Galway’s No. 1 goalkeeper with a number of agile saves – including a penalty – against Dublin while Johnny Coen, John Hanbury and Padraic Mannion continue to grow as a full-back unit.

Outside, the half-back line of captain David Collins, centre-back Iarla Tannian and the returning Daithí Burke has a commanding look about it while Aidan Harte appears to have found his feet at midfield. Although substituted last day out, Joseph Cooney still got on enough ball in the first half to warrant another start at centre-field on Saturday.

Up front, Andrew Smith, Cyril Donnellan and Jonathan Glynn have proven their worth as able ball winners while the inside line of Cathal Mannion (3-3), Joe Canning (2-3) and Jason Flynn (0-9, 0-7 frees) underlined their class with a combined contribution of 5-15 in the quarter-final replay win over Dublin.

With David Burke, Padraic Breheny, Fergal Moore, Greg Lally and Davy Glennon seeing action in the quarter-final, they will also be pushing for inclusion, which strengthens Galway’s – and manager Anthony Cunningham’s – hand significantly. Of course, Galway and Laois are no strangers to each other in recent years, with the Tribesmen struggling to get over the Midlanders in their previous two championship outings in 2013 (semi-final) and 2014 (quarter-final).

It took a 64th minute Aonghus Callanan goal to finally break free of Laois in 2013 – Galway eventually recording a 2-17 to 1-13 win – before a Jonathan Glynn major early in the second half of their 2014 encounter revived the ailing Tribesmen, who had trailed Laois 0-16 to 1-7 at the break.

Galway won the 2014 meeting by 1-22 to 0-23 but, make no mistake, it was real championship fare as it took a Joe Canning strike to tie up the game late on before Paul Killeen, Flynn and Tannian tallied points in the final three minutes to see their side into a 1-22 to 0-22 lead. It was Galway’s first time ahead since the initial stages.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.