A key year ahead for O’Neill and Galway as action finally resumes

Inside Track with John McIntyre

When Shane O’Neill signed up for the Galway senior hurling manager’s post in November of 2019, he couldn’t have imagined – or could any of us – such a disruptive first season in charge. Between empty stadiums and playing championship games in the depths of winter, it was a GAA year like none other.

There was also the long break in competitive action from early March when sport became one of the many casualties of Covid-19 until inter-county fixtures were cleared to go ahead again the following October. Even for experienced managers it was an unprecedented test of their organising skills. Never mind their patience!

For rookie managers, the challenges were even greater, especially for those coming from an outside county. O’Neill was barely four months in the job when the rug was pulled from under GAA fixtures. The former Limerick hurler was only getting to know his players before enduring nearly a half year of no physical contact with his squad in a group setting.

It was a tough and unexpected baptism of fire, especially as Galway were just building up momentum in the league with home wins over Tipperary and Cork, only to be followed by months of inactivity. O’Neill had to be frustrated by that turn of events, but the Tribesmen belied a far from ideal preparation when stepping out in Croke Park in late October for their 2020 championship debut.

In the opposition corner was a Wexford team which could (maybe should) have beaten Tipperary in the previous year’s All-Ireland semi-final, and though Galway were favourites to win that Leinster semi-final, nobody could have imagined that there would be 13 points (1-27 to 0-17) between the teams at the finish.

Galway’s goal came from Brian Concannon, who really came of age as a county hurler last year, and given the overall vibrant nature of their display, the men in maroon were then expected to overcome what was perceived to be a fading Kilkenny in the provincial final. Though failing to find the net, they were in control – five points ahead – heading into the final quarter.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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