Galway seek first FBD League title since 2009

CHAMPIONSHIPS might not be won or lost in January but yet the footballers of Galway and Roscommon will take a small modicum of satisfaction from reaching the final of the Connacht FBD league, a contest to be decided on Sunday in Kiltoom (2.15).

While Galway’s victory over GMIT last Sunday in Moycullen was little more than routine, Roscommon’s 2-12 to 1-10 success over Mayo in McHale Park will have made a few people sit up and take notice.

Roscommon have put a lot of resources into under-age football over recent years and they are producing a steady stream of promising young players – their five point win in Castlebar, even allowing for the humility of January football, was significant in that it was a first success for them at this venue since 1986.

Diarmuid Murtagh and Mark Nally hit the Roscommon goals in what was, by all accounts, a thoroughly merited success and one greatly appreciated by their band of travelling supporters.

Like all managers at this time of year, Roscommon boss John Evans was reluctant to read too much into the victory, but the ‘Rossie’ supporters took a lot of satisfaction from the win. It might be ‘only’ January but the success still sends out a ‘little message’.

There was also a decent enough crowd at Moycullen on Sunday for what was effectively a ‘nothing fixture’ between Galway and GMIT, with Kevin Walsh’s charges already through to the final before a ball was kicked.

It is Galway’s first FBD final appearance since 2010 when Mayo beat them in the final, while they last claimed the trophy in 2009 when they beat Roscommon in the decider after extra-time.

Galway never had to raise a gallop in a one sided 1-13 to 0-5 win over the students. They welcomed back Athenry midfielder Tom Flynn to the side after his stint of colleges duty outside the province – he responded with an impressive display as did second half substitute, Johnny Heaney (Killanin).

Patrick Sweeney from Killanin – also an interval substitute – struck the Galway goal, but after looking at a lot of players over the first three weekends in January, Walsh and his selectors will now have to decide on their best fifteen available as they strive to get their hands on the first piece of silverware of the year.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune