Footballers must get bitter for big test against Mayo

THERE was no hope a month ago, but there is some hope now – and, ironically, the change of mood among the local football fraternity has nothing to do with the Galway senior team itself. Instead, the shift in morale is the direct product of the county U21’s great deeds over the past few weeks when they made a mockery of pre-match opinion in overcoming the formidable challenges posed by both Kildare and Cork in do or die championship collisions.

Galway’s rising stars were a breath of fresh air; showing scant regard for the reputations of supposedly better equipped opposition on their way to All-Ireland glory. Apart from the team’s natural footballing expertise, they were willing to lay their bodies on the line to get the job done. Talent alone is rarely enough to achieve championship glory, but the young Tribesmen backed it up with a tremendous work ethic which proved too much of a combination for Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Kildare and Cork in turn.

Only four of that successful squad, team captain Fintán Ó Curraoin, Tomas Flynn, Shane Walsh and goalkeeper Thomas Healy are involved with the Galway seniors, but the feel-good factor around the county’s footballing heartlands ahead of Sunday’s big Connacht championship showdown at Pearse Stadium shouldn’t be under-estimated. Title holders Mayo are understandably strong favourites, reached last year’s All-Ireland final and have a largely settled line up, but it’s still difficult to entirely trust them.

They suffered an honourable defeat (2-16 to 0-16) to Dublin in the recent National League semi-final and have plenty of experienced performers in the likes of goalkeeper David Clarke, the O’Shea brothers, Donal Vaughan, Kevin McLoughlin, Cillian O’Connor, Alan Dillon, poised to return after several months out with a groin injury, but the Connacht semi-final is likely to come too soon for Andy Moran and his absence would leave them somewhat more predictable in front of the opposition posts.

Undoubtedly, a Mayo outfit which is chasing a third consecutive provincial title represents a major obstacle for Galway to overcome on recent form alone, particularly as the home team continue to have well chronicled problems in bringing some stability to its central spine. The midfield sector largely remains a disaster zone and Galway’s chronic inability to secure primary possession is proving a killer at this level.

Nobody can accuse Alan Mulholland and his management team of not scanning through enough options during the Division Two league campaign, but some square pegs didn’t fit into round holes, leaving a lot of uncertainty around about what will be the formation of the Galway line up. Juggling around the same players hasn’t been serving the Tribesmen well of late and will hardly do so on Sunday either. The team also needs to stop playing in fits and starts.

The Galway players, at this stage, must be fed up of having their bottle and resilience repeatedly questioned. They are also regularly told that their confidence must be brittle and that they tend to go hiding when the going gets tough. That level of negative commentary makes it a difficult environment for players in which to progress, but it’s about time that the squad finally stood up inside the four white lines to defend their own reputations.

I have seen this group of Galway footballers train in the past and there is no shortage of commitment or ambition among them. They are proud young men too who respect the county’s tradition and the responsibility it places on their shoulders. What Michael Meehan, for instance, has gone through to be even playing at this level is nothing short of extraordinary. He has bucked medical opinion that his badly damaged ankle would end his football career prematurely and has slavishly worked to overcome an injury which must be, privately, soul-destroying.

Now don’t tell me that Meehan doesn’t care about Galway’s standing in Gaelic football. All it would take is one big win in a knock out match to change the overall dynamic, but for that to happen Galway are going to have to empty the energy locker, be prepared to be hurt for the maroon jersey on Sunday, and draw some inspiration from the deeds of the county U21s. Get angry and bitter, too, lads and, in the process, you might give the critics an overdue stuffing.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.