New Galway mentors need to start spreading their wings

Date Published: {J}

GIVEN that Galway supporters don’t place much stock on the FBD League, the first real test of Tomás Ó Flatharta’s management was always going to come in the opening round of the National Football League away to Monaghan in early February. In the build up to the game, the vibes had been good from the camp, the players were training hard and the team mentors were organised and enthusiastic.

A number of trial games and tough training sessions had underlined the business-like approach of Flatharta, Sean Og de Paor and Martin McNamara since they had been appointed, while the feedback from players was positive. There was also far less hype around the place compared to when Joe Kernan had taken over even if injuries continued to stalk the team’s National League preparations.

With the likes of Diarmuid Blake, Padraic Joyce and Michael Meehan still on the casualty list, Nicky Joyce yet to rejoin the squad and St. James’ pair, Paul Conroy and Eoin Concannon, still unavailable, Galway followers would have been expecting a fresh appeal to the team chosen to face Monaghan, but with the exception of corner back Kieran McGrath and attacker Cillian de Paor, the rest of the line out were all largely tried and tested. Sure, Eddie Hoare was also back from injury and there was a new position for Gareth Bradshaw, but some fans were concerned by the familiarity of the starting 15, although Greg Higgins was a late call up for Joe Bergin.

Anyway, none of that seemed to matter when Galway stormed into an early lead after raiding wing back Gary O’Donnell, Sean Armstrong, Higgins, Cormac Bane and Hoare, who began promisingly, all found the target. In fact, the Tribesmen had rattled over six points in the opening 12 minutes and with further scores from Matthew Clancy, Armstrong, Higgins and Hoare, everything appeared to be going smoothly when they led by 0-10 to 0-6 by the 27th minute.

Sadly, it was all downhill for Galway after that. They didn’t raise another flag prior to the interval, only landed a solitary point in the opening 26 minutes of the second-half and ended up losing convincingly to a seriously understrength Monaghan team which most observers had considered prime candidates for relegation to Division Two. Galway’s fade out was somewhat demoralising even allowing for the time of year.

Significantly, it was two of Monaghan’s most battle-hardened players, midfielder Dick Clerkin and Paul Finlay, along with lively corner forward Conor McManus, who did most to drag the home team back into the contest as Galway began to lose the midfield battle.

Furthermore, their back-line really started to creak while the forwards became increasingly prone to panic shooting. Once things started slipping on Galway, the lack of on-field leadership and confidence was extremely worrying.

That’s the legacy of several disappointing years, especially in 2010 when they lost in the championship to both Sligo and Wexford, two counties who aren’t within an ass’s roar of winning the All-Ireland title and while the appointment of a new management always brings fresh hope, the reality is that they are seriously devoid of quality players at the moment, while there also seems to be a lack of genuine pace about the field.

As last Sunday’s match progressed, Monaghan increasingly ran Galway off their feet while their decision-making was much sharper as well. Of course, it’s a long year and when Galway’s injured and unavailable players return to the fray, it will undoubtedly strengthen their ranks, but the management badly need to discover some new talent. The bottom line is that a lot of that Galway team which lined out in Clones have consistently fallen short at the highest level.

Perhaps, Ó Flatharta and his mentors could also look at the option of moving Finian Hanley to centre back. The Salthill man has pace, a good positional sense, an athletic frame and looks continually under-employed in the number three jersey. Sure, Kieran Fitzgerald had big problems in the left corner last Sunday, but the Corofin man’s natural home is on the edge of the square. Bradshaw should also be restored to wing back as his decision-making around midfield against Monaghan left something to be desired. The bottom line is that Galway need to tighten up their rearguard before they start going anywhere.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.