Killanin now set sights on provincial glory

KILLANIN boss Pat Quealey has not ruled out springing Kevin Walsh from the bench once again for their Connacht championship campaign after the 45-year-old Galway manager and former All-Star winner was a surprise impact substitute in the club’s county final victory over Moycullen earlier this month.

Walsh’s sensational appearance proved vital in aiding his native club to secure the title on a 0-13 to 0-10 scoreline, with Galway’s former All-Ireland winner introduced in the closing stages to replace injured midfielder Éamon McDonagh, who had sustained a hand injury.

While Walsh’s focus turns to getting Galway footballers up and running for 2015, his club boss has not ruled out seeing him again in Killanin’s provincial campaign. “I don’t know,” smiles Quealey, as he prepared his side for Sunday’s Connacht semi-final tie against Calry/St. Joseph’s at Tuam Stadium (2pm).

“That (Walsh’s county final appearance) was a very special moment for everybody. He went in there and did a job. In fairness to Kevin, he was asked a number of weeks before the final – because we did have injuries – and when we made the call to Kevin he answered straight away. ‘I will be there,’ he said.

“We don’t know if he will be able to tog for the Connacht championship because the Galway job is a huge thing for him at the moment. You never know. We are full of surprises,” said Quealey, who noted, regardless, their semi-final against the Sligo holders promises to be a big day for the Connemara parish.

“It is a massive occasion for the club because it is a place the club has never been before. As you can see by the numbers we have [at training] – and we have a few lads who are away in college in Waterford and Dublin – we are in a good position.

“So, it is a huge occasion and the lads are embracing it. I mean, as everyone knows, our panel goes from 17 to 45 and there are quite a few lads who spent many, many years playing senior football without any medals to show for it. So, this is for everybody.”

While their county final victory was another great day in the club’s history, Quealey highlighted within the week the players were back in training. “We were back training the Thursday night after the county final because on the Saturday, six days after the county final, we had to play Claregalway in the league.

“We were delighted with that because it got the lads back focused straight away after the county final and focused on the next challenge. So, it was a good work out for some of the lads because, no doubt, the lads did celebrate a bit. In all honesty, though I don’t think anybody celebrated beyond Wednesday.”

Consequently, he said the players’ attitude has been very good in the lead-in to this game. “We are now able to call on some of our juniors as well who were, unfortunately, knocked out of the junior ‘A’ championship. So, it means we can call up some of them now which strengthens up our panel as well.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.