Former Galway hero wants team to abandon short kick-out tactic

TWO-time All-Ireland winner Ja Fallon believes Galway must abandon the short kick-out strategy they employed against Mayo and Roscommon in the Connacht championship if they are to have any hope of overturning Donegal in their All-Ireland qualifier clash at Markievicz Park, Sligo on Saturday (7pm).

Fallon, a two-time All-Star winner, is clearly not a fan of a tactic which went badly awry on the Tribesmen in their 2-15 to 0-12 defeat to Roscommon in the Connacht final. “I think they have to go back to basics, to be honest. You have to be kicking the ball out long. Otherwise, you are only putting a lot of pressure on the team, on your goalkeeper and on your backs,” says the Tuam Stars legend.

“We saw it against Mayo and we saw against Roscommon. The kick-out put extreme pressure on the players themselves, where there is no need. Against Mayo with a gale force wind, we went short. It doesn’t make sense and I don’t understand it but I’m sure they know themselves why.

“We need to build momentum in games and the way to do that is to compete in midfield, where we have a lot of big guys – 6 ft. 4, 6 ft. 5 – and at No. 10 and No. 12. And take it from there. Take a grip of the game the old way and try to get the ball in fast to the forwards and take them (opposition defenders) on.”

Indeed, with forwards of the calibre of Shane Walsh, Michael Comer and Michael Daly, Fallon says Galway have “huge potential” but, again, he maintains, the side must eradicate the calamitous mistakes they are making from their restarts.

“When you concede a soft goal and a point from short kick-outs, it just kills momentum – and games are built on momentum. The crowd, who are behind you, also begin to get frustrated. What that all does is create a sense of fear in your team. That is only a basic thing but it is a huge thing in the overall picture.”

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