Anything could happen but Galway ready to give it a go

TWO of the traditional GAA powerhouses, Galway and Mayo, clash in the Connacht senior football decider as all roads this Sunday lead to … Dublin!

Yes, the more cynical among the GAA fraternity may perceive that the move is finance driven, but, whatever the motive, it does mean that 18,000 supporters have the opportunity to attend one of the great showpieces of the year. In the 16 months that’s just been, we’ll certainly take it.

While the staging of the Connacht decider, due to throw-in at Croke Park at 1:30pm, outside of the province is novel, to say the least, it is not unheard of as Galway and Mayo senior ladies footballers held their Connacht final replay at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick in 2019.

That LGFA game was the curtain-raiser to the clash of Galway and Mayo men in the All-Ireland qualifier series and, while Galway lost out to Mayo in the main event, the Tribeswomen’s victory in their provincial showdown at an ‘outside’ venue beforehand may be a good omen for Sunday.

Other than that, the record books show that Galway and Sligo did meet in the 1922 Connacht final at Croke Park – played in early October 1923. Sligo had won the original fixture – and beaten Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final – but a Galway objection resulted in the game being re-fixed for Castlerea.

However, Central Council ordered that it be played at Croke Park. Galway won 2-4 to 2-2, before losing out to Dublin on a 0-6 to 0-4 scoreline in the delayed All-Ireland decider.

At any rate, both Galway and Mayo will seek to make their own piece of history on Sunday. The good news from a Galway perspective is that captain Shane Walsh should be fit to line out, having been forced off with a hamstring injury late on against Roscommon.

“He is fine,” confirmed Galway boss Padraic Joyce at last week’s press conference. “It was a worry the way he pulled up in the game. He had a little bit of a hamstring issue, but it wasn’t torn, just more tightness than anything else. He is fine; he is training away.”

The Kilkerrin/Clonberne sharpshooter’s availability represents a significant boost to Galway. In the National League, he tallied 0-26, 0-16 from placed balls, and, although quieter against Roscommon, he converted two crucial frees in their 2-11 to 0-12 Connacht semi-final victory.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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