Early season lift for Galway in deserved FBD semis win

Galway 0-17

Mayo   0-13

THE first public sighting of the Galway footballers in 2022 proved a positive experience in this competitive FBD League semi-final held in the spectacular new Connacht Air Dome on Friday evening.

In ending a run of three consecutive defeats to their arch Connacht rivals, Galway will have gained a significant psychological early season lift by getting the better of last year’s All-Ireland finalists before a restricted crowd of 300.

The Galway management – boosted by the addition of the vastly experienced Cian O’Neill – would have been anxious for their team to make a statement of intent for the year ahead and, in that context alone, victory was more important to the Tribesmen than Mayo.

It has been a difficult time for the Padraic Joyce led management since Covid struck in the spring of 2020, but Friday evening’s tussle marked a new beginning, and you could see that in Galway’s energetic and committed approach.

Despite difficult starts to both halves, Galway emerged deserving four-point winners in a fast-paced game, facilitated by its indoor setting and the Astro turf surface. There was none of the muck or slipping or sliding usually associated with matches in January, and the overall standard was all the better for it.

Given their tribulations over the past two years, there was an obligation on Galway to trial new talent in the FBD League. Four players made their senior debut – goalkeeper Conor Flaherty, full back Seán Fitzgerald, midfielder Niall Daly and wing forward Cormac McWalter – on a team which was sprinkled with more regulars than Mayo’s.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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