Galway primed for tough away league tie as Meath try to restore some pride

AHEAD of a tricky National Football League clash against Meath in Navan on Sunday (2pm), and at the midway point of the campaign, it is perhaps timely to take stock of where Galway ‘are at’.

Kevin Walsh’s charges remain unbeaten after three rounds – since drawing with Cork on the opening day in Salthill, Galway sent out a clear statement of intent by beating Fermanagh away, and comprehensively shrugging-off the challenge of Clare in Pearse Stadium last Sunday.

Despite mixing the good with the poor in those three performances, Galway have accumulated five valuable league points, and sit on top of the Division Two table.

That is obviously where they want to be but a word of caution is advisable. Galway won’t be getting too carried away because after three rounds last season, they had four league points, and their promotion bid fell short in the latter half of the campaign.

It’s also worth noting that every team that earned a right to play in the top flight in recent league campaigns have had to win a minimum of four games, and usually five.

In 2013 and 2014, eleven league points secured promotion for Donegal, Monaghan, Derry and Westmeath. Last season, Tyrone and Cavan went up with 12 and 10 league points respectively. In 2015, Down topped the league with 10 points and Roscommon followed them into Division One with just nine.

Recent history, therefore, suggests Galway will probably need to win at least two more matches before promotion becomes a reality.

Tús maith, leath na hoibre and certainly Galway’s unbeaten start gives momentum ahead of the four remaining matches but the squad and supporters are well aware that there is still a great deal of heavy lifting to do.

And while on paper Galway are in the driving seat, at this level anyone can beat anyone on any given day, particularly so now when the so-called ‘struggling’ teams are fighting to avoid relegation.

Another positive to take from the first rounds is Walsh and his management team of Seán Conlon and Brian Silke have blooded a handful of new players.

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