No foregone conclusion but Galway look stronger force

By Pádraic Ó Ciardha

IN this new, condensed intercounty GAA calendar, a four week break is enough to get you all but forgotten about, it seems. That’s certainly how it feels from a Galway football perspective heading into this weekend’s All-Ireland quarter-finals in Croke Park.

Galway’s impressive showing against Roscommon in the Connacht final at the end of May was quickly bumped out of the national spotlight by Derry’s return as kingpins of Ulster that same Sunday afternoon. Even the glow of Derry’s achievement has faded with Armagh becoming the latest flavour of the month after they knocked All-Ireland champions Tyrone and Declan Bonner’s Donegal out of the championship in the intervening period.

It’s that same Armagh side who Galway will come up against on Sunday (1.45pm) with the Orchard County likely to still be riding high after their win over Donegal which sparked jubilant scenes of celebration in Clones. Pádraic Joyce and his players will be hoping to remind everyone of the progress Galway have made this year, however.

While the league campaign ended in disappointing fashion, Galway can be more than happy with their year to date. The Connacht quarter-final win over Mayo in Castlebar was a huge boost to the team, who then dispatched Leitrim before reclaiming the Nestor Cup on home soil with a victory over Roscommon that was far more comprehensive than the 2-19 to 2-16 scoreline suggests.

There is a sense that there is more on offer for this Galway team, though. There’s no denying that Galway, Armagh, Clare and Derry find themselves on the easier side of the draw in this year’s championship and supporters from all four counties can realistically hope for a place in an All-Ireland final.

For more, read this week’s Galway CityTribune.

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