Great chance for Galway to reach football’s biggest day

By Pádraic Ó Ciardha

SIX days after the county’s hurlers saw their season ended at the All Ireland semi-final stage, the Galway senior footballers will hope to avoid the same fate as they head into Saturday’s clash against Derry with high hopes.

While Henry Shefflin’s side were rank outsiders facing Limerick, the betting is much closer for this clash with the Ulster champions being just about favoured. The hurlers’ performance on Sunday showed that the pre-match odds can’t always be trusted, however, and Pádraic Joyce and his side will hope that’s the case again this weekend.

Galway certainly have no reason to head to Croke Park with any fear or trepidation. The league final defeat to Roscommon earlier in the year is the only real blot on what has been a hugely positive campaign so far. Promotion to Division 1 was achieved during the Spring while the championship began with a hard-fought win against Mayo, a big step forward for this team.

The victory in Castlebar was followed up with impressive performances against Leitrim and Roscommon, avenging that earlier defeat, to claim a Connacht crown while the dramatic quarter-final win over Armagh further proved Galway’s newfound mettle.

Derry are also having a superb year, bouncing back from the disappointment of having been denied promotion in the league by Galway to win their first Ulster title since 1998 but Pádraic Joyce and his players will be aware that Saturday’s game is a great chance to reach an All Ireland final.

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

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