Past time for Galway to get it right in their home venue

HOME rule. Are you having a laugh? It simply doesn’t cut the mustard when the footballers of Galway and Roscommon clash in provincial finals. At least, that has been the unusual scenario in the counties’ last four Connacht deciders.

Between 2016 and ’19, the Tribesmen and the Rossies dominated the provincial football landscape, but neither team managed to record a title triumph on home soil. It makes one think that Galway are at a disadvantage at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (1.45pm) for the sides’ latest big championship collision.

Galway were at home in Salthill for the 2016 decider, but an Enda Smith goal helped Roscommon force a draw (0-13 to 1-10) before Kevin Walsh’s charges came out convincingly on top in the replay at MacHale Park, Castlebar (3-16 to 0-14) with Danny Cummins raising two of the winners’ green flags.

The 2017 showdown was also held at Pearse Stadium and the Rossies gained revenge on a 2-15 to 0-12 scoreline. Cian Connolly and Brian Stack were their goalscorers on a day the home team were a big disappointment.

Twelve months later Galway were turning the tables, this time at Dr Hyde Park. Again, they didn’t find the net in a 0-16 to 2-6 triumph, but eight points from Shane Walsh and three from Ian Burke more than compensated.

In 2019, the counties met in the Connacht Final for the fourth consecutive season. It was back to Salthill and Galway ought to have been braced for another mighty battle having failed to beat Roscommon in the deciders of 2016 and ’17 at the same venue.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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