Bright lights for Kernan in Galway’s league opener

Date Published: 24-Sep-2009

A GLAMOUR Connacht derby under lights in Castlebar will provide a high-profile start to Joe Kernan’s reign as Galway footballmanager next year as Mayo will host the Tribesmen in the first round of Allianz NFL fixtures on the night of Saturday, February 6.

While the FBD League will kick-start the 2010 season in January, the prospect of an early First Division clash with the county’s biggest rivals should ensure keen interest among supporters and provide an early barometer of the side’s prospects for the year.

It is expected that the football and hurling leagues will follow the same system as this year, with the top two in either code going straight through to the League final – there were no League semi-finals or quarter- finals in 2009.

After a good start to the League, in which they won four games in a row, the footballers only lost out on a place in the final on scoring difference, to Derry, due to their defeats to Mayo and Kerry in the last two games.

Indeed, the 1-11 to 0-13 defeat to Mayo in Tuam in the penultimate game at the end of March set the tone for a disappointing summer which ultimately led to Liam Sammon’s decision to step down after two years at the helm.

Unbeaten in five Allianz NFL games up to that point, Galway blew a six point lead to their most intense rivals during a hugely disappointing second half, after Michael Meehan had missed a penalty. Subsequently, Kerry gave the Tribesmen another dose of reality in the last Division One game before beating Derry in the final.

Mayo, of course,…