Injury woes for the club tipped as big threat to Corofin

Annaghdown 1-16

Barna 1-10

FOR the guts of ten minutes after the final whistle blew on this final group two Galway senior football championship match, the entire Annaghdown squad – extended panel of players, management and backroom team – remained in a huddle on the field at Tuam Stadium.

Only they know what was said but you wouldn’t be too far off the mark in guessing that the conversation centred around the massive challenge that is before them in the coming weeks, as one of maybe a few of sides still standing that is capable of going all the way and winning the Frank Fox Cup.

After all, Annaghdown, were closest to dethroning Corofin in last year’s competition at the semi-final stage. And while their championship title credentials weren’t really tested on Saturday afternoon, and they won’t have learned a whole pile from this facile win over Barna, they have a team and management that is ambitious and harbours hopes of knocking off their perch a Corofin club searching for a sixth consecutive title.

This six-points success guaranteed Annaghdown top-spot in the group, and in theory, an ‘easier’ draw in the quarter-finals against St. James, who were runners-up in the group that included table-toppers Corofin. It may have come at a price, though.

Annaghdown’s star man, Galway captain Damien Comer spent several minutes lying on the ground late in the second-half, before being substituted – possibly just as a precaution – with what appeared to be a rib injury that probably wasn’t as serious as it looked initially.

Of more concern was the injury to Ryan Forde – whose leg was heavily strapped at the end of the match – and to county defender, Eoghan Kerin, who also looked to be struggling with some sort of leg injury when he was hauled ashore early.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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