Galway make short work of Sligo

Date Published: 08-Jan-2008

THERE were few trappings of sporting romance or glory in evidence on a dank January Sunday in Tuam Stadium, but a competitive FBD tie helped greatly to lift the pall of midwinter gloom.

Even the most die-hard cynic looks forward to a fresh beginning and the move to pastures new . . . such thoughts brought about 800 hardy souls to the pantheon of Galway football in search of small signs of hope.

Tuam Stadium might need a €5 million injection to bring it into the modern era of sporting theatres, but the place still has an earthiness and a soul which will always make it a special place for Galway fans. The faithful who made the pilgrimage last Sunday represent the hard core of Galway supporters — people who know their football, neither overloaded with false ambition nor devoid of hope.

Sligo, under new manager Thomas Jordan, came with a strong line-up — on paper at least — missing few names from their Connacht championship side of last season but as this match progressed, one but couldn’t help feeling that ’08 will see the old order returning to football in the province.

This is early January and we are far removed from the feel of summer dust in the air but on what was a sad personal week for Galway manager Liam Sammon, he will have been reasonably happy with his first competitive outing.

Galway lined out without…..