Galway up the ante in second half

Galway 0-16

GMIT 1-5

WHILE the Connacht FBD League mightn’t top the priority list, January has been a somewhat beneficial month for Galway who advanced to the decider following another hard earned and deserved win at Tuam Stadium.

Kevin Walsh’s stated objective is to increase the depth of the Galway panel and with so many unavailable due to injury and college commitments, this represented a satisfactory success considering the mitigating circumstances. GMIT were bright initially, but Galway’s greater sprinkling of class told despite a shaky start.

Sunday week’s Allianz League Division Two encounter at O’Moore Park away to Laois will provide a far more exacting environment in which to cope, but Walsh is fairly content with how Galway are moving overall. “We have a few new names which is important because a lot of lads have worked very hard during the past number of weeks. Obviously, we have put three different teams out and at half-time we were only two points up and we had to play into a strong breeze in the second half.

“It wasn’t the best position to be in. A few changes at half-time had to be done, but in fairness they did lift it in the second half. The prize is an FBD final next Sunday so we will see how that goes.”

With the weather cold, wet and windy, Galway struggled for large chunks of a first half in which GMIT competed impressively. Val Daly’s students’ were organised, dropping deep and forcing turnovers against a Galway outfit who did profit on the rare occasions when opting for a direct approach.

Eddie Hoare and Danny Cummins craved involvement inside initially as Galway edged 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 10th minute. Hoare slotted over three nice frees, while Cummins also registered from play.

GMIT, though, were gritty and determined, frustrating the favourites, who endured a 13 minute spell without a score. Still, GMIT only managed to register one point themselves during this stint courtesy of a splendid Joseph Donnellan effort.

Niall Walsh replied for Galway, but Donnellan and Damien Brennan trimmed the deficit to the narrowest of margins. Eventually, there was a brief glimpse of enterprising Galway play as Hoare and Paul Conroy combined to release Adrian Varley, who fisted over as Kevin Walsh’s charges departed with a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage.

Ultimately, Galway had been more clinical up front in the opening period converting six out of 10 attempts, GMIT were left to reflect on some wastefulness only posting four from 13.

Full match report in this week’s Connacht Tribune