Footballers’ fight back falls at final fence

Date Published: 21-Jul-2009

FOR most of the afternoon at Pearse Stadium it was akin to a Mayo party by the sunny seaside with Galway not allowed to build any castles in the sand, but then as if a greater order from above had intervened, this Connacht final ended up being decided by one kick of the ball.

Overall on Sunday, Mayo had more balance, more strength in key positions and more sideline options too, but Galway’s fiendish streak in attack, even on a slack day, came perilously close to earning them a second chance.

Mayo have built solidly under John O’Mahony for the past three years and, while they may not be the finished article just yet, they are strong in the key central positions — they are also playing with a tenacity and spirit which can see them through crisis periods.

And yet, paradoxical as it may seem, Galway will reflect on this match and say that it was one they could have won.

They weren’t ‘wiped’ at midfield, they missed a couple of decent goal chances, and conceded at least 1-3 by giving the ball away from reasonably secure positions.

Mayo were never behind in this match and at different stages of both halves led by margins of between five and seven points but for some reason they could never quite tighten the noose around Galway’s neck — when Liam Sammon’s side eventually broke clear for air in the closing minutes, the recovery was stunning. It was almost fatal for Mayo too.

Maybe though it is time for Galway and their management to get back to basics in terms of their team selection and strategy — too many things just aren’t adding up when it comes to the final package that’s appearing on the pitch.

A specialist All-Star corner back in Corofin’s Kieran Fitzgerald is still left on the line despite Galway being in desperate trouble in this position against Sligo, and Mayo early on last Sunday . . . one of our top scoring forwards, Sean Armstrong, is ending up playing his football on the defensive side of midfield . . . and Galway started this match with a natural wing back playing at left half forward. Surely a time to take stock.

If Galway do…