Doubts over Comer and Walsh for league final battle against Roscommon

By Pádraic Ó Ciardha

WHILE the Division 2 final is often seen as bonus territory for teams who have already achieved the main objective of promotion to the top flight, last weekend’s result in Dr Hyde Park has meant Sunday’s league decider in Croke Park (1.45pm) has suddenly become that little bit more important for Pádraic Joyce’s Galway side.

The five point defeat to Roscommon was by no means the end of the world, but Joyce will be keen to ensure that the result was merely a blip and not the beginning of a trend with the start of the championship just around the corner.

Six wins in their opening six league fixtures deservedly saw the Tribesmen earn plaudits during the Spring but much of that goodwill and good work will be undone if they were to suffer two defeats in a row just as the Connacht quarter-final date with Mayo begins to loom large on the horizon.

Add to that the fact that it is another provincial rival in Roscommon that has the chance to do a quickfire double over them and it should mean that there will be little sign in Croke Park of the complacency that undid Galway last weekend.

With just three weeks separating the Division 2 final and the meeting with Mayo, one would forgive Joyce if he had half an eye on the match in MacHale Park on April 24, but the manager said he and his side are fully focused on this weekend and on giving the Galway supporters something to celebrate.

“We need to go in and not lose two games in a row, so we’ll approach the game at the weekend like it’s a championship match. It’s great to have a day out in Croke Park, for the supporters and everything so we’ll give it our best,” Joyce said.

“We’ll never refuse silverware. We don’t get a whole pile of it too often so when it’s there for grabs, you go try and win it. We don’t go up to try and leave it behind us.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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