Galway are getting house in order at the right time

Inside Track with John McIntyre

GALWAY footballers may have finished up in No Man’s Land at the end of their fluctuating National League Division Two campaign, but they will at least head into the Connacht championship on the front foot after a relatively routine victory over Kildare in a pressure contest at Tuam Stadium last Sunday.

Having ended a three-game losing sequence by overcoming Roscommon at Hyde Park the previous weekend, Galway needed to follow through on that notable result, especially as defeat to the Lilywhites would have consigned them to Division Three football next Spring. That scenario would have been a disaster but Kevin Walsh’s squad may be coming good at the right time

By half time, they were in the driving seat against Kildare. Leading by 1-10 to 0-7, Galway had given themselves a sufficient cushion to carry the day even against the backdrop of having let comfortable leads slip through their fingers in their matches against Down, Cavan and Laois. Those were admittedly sobering experiences, but sometimes a developing team has to learn the hard way and the bottom line is that Paul Conroy and company were able to tough it out in Tuam this time.

Though the team management understandably rested Damien Comer and Liam Silke after they had been involved in a high tempo Connacht Under 21 final at the same venue the previous evening, Galway began a lively contest in purposeful fashion although it took a close range goal from the recalled Shane Walsh in the 24th minute to really back up their efforts on the scoreboard.

Both Sean Denvir and Patrick Sweeney might have raised green flags before that, but at least Galway were starting to punch holes in the Kildare defence. They built on Walsh’s goal too as Peadar Ó Griofa (2), Paul Conroy and Gary Sice all subsequently pointed to leave the hosts six clear at the break. There was also a bit of swagger about their play at times even if for much of the third quarter, they lost momentum, causing some unease on the Tuam terraces.

Kildare lofted over the opening three points of the second half from Eoghan O’Flaherty, Alan Smith and Daniel Flynn to cut the deficit to three and, in the process, asked questions of Galway’s mental fortitude. But the men in maroon weren’t found wanting as goals from midfielder Fiontán Ó Curraoin and Walsh made the game safe as well as proving a timely boost ahead of the championship.

Having come through a mini-crisis half way through their league campaign, you’d expect that Galway will draw some encouragement from achieving results in those vital games against Roscommon and Kildare. They remain somewhat inconsistent but the potential is there for a serious cut at halting Mayo’s drive for five in the province this summer.

Comer, who had to retire with a facial injury shortly after coming on last Sunday, looks like becoming their ‘go to man’ up front, while the emergence of Liam Silke should help to increase their defensive options. The return of midfielder Tom Flynn from injury will also be a priority and though Galway know they still have to improve in order to dethrone the Connacht champions, the gap is undoubtedly closing as the Tribesmen seek to end a seven year provincial title famine.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.