Pressure on clubs to lift morale after Galway’s disaster

CIARAN TIERNEY

THE Galway footballers’ heaviest defeat to Mayo in 106 years has ensured an unusually sombre mood in the county’s GAA strongholds which is unlikely to be lifted by the start of the Claregalway Hotel and Bon Secours senior football championship this weekend.

Normally a team with three or four players on the county panel would be expected to have a distinct advantage when the focus switches to the club scene, but now the spotlight will be on how the Galway players bounce back from a humiliating defeat to their greatest rivals.

Suddenly, the character, passion, tactical planning, and commitment levels of a proud footballing county are under question – all the doom and gloom is in stark contrast to just three weeks ago when the U-21 side brought All-Ireland glory to the maroon and white with a thrilling victory over Cork.

It’s now up to the county’s senior players to demonstrate that the game in Galway is not as bad as it was made to look, cruelly at times, by Mayo last Sunday and there seems to be a real restlessness among the clubs given that no less than 16 of the 21 senior sides have changed their management teams since last year’s campaign.

Corofin once again start the championship as firm favourites, and they begin their 2013 championship with what should be a routine assignment against Micheal Breathnach in the second part of a double bill at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening.

The tie of the round is probably the ‘derby’ between Cortoon Shamrocks and the local Stars at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening, the first part of a double header at the North Galway venue. Salthill-Knocknacarra will begin the defence of their title against Intermediate champions Carna-Caiseal at Pearse Stadium.

It will be a poignant occasion for the Connemara men as it’s their first championship tie since the death of corner back Daniel O Conaire (23), who died suddenly of a suspected heart attack in his sleep last month.

Daniel was a key man in the side who won the intermediate title last year, and took part in all the celebrations when they restored senior status after a seven year absence. Perhaps his tragic passing should put Galway football’s current woes in their proper perspective ahead of the ten games which take place at four separate venues on Saturday and Sunday.

SATURDAY

St James’ v Caltra

(Tuam Stadium, 3.45pm)

City man Frank Doherty’s reward for taking charge of his native club is an opening round showdown with the side he helped guide to the 2004 All-Ireland title. He contested two county finals as Caltra manager and describes his three and a half years with the club as “the best times ever” with a “great bunch of lads”. St James’ and Galway goalkeeper John Egan is out for the year, while his side will hope that county panellists Paul Conroy, Johnny Duane, and Eoin Concannon can put last Sunday’s nightmare behind them.

The city side will be favourites to overcome Caltra, who also have a new manager in Cyril Ryan (Mountbellew-Moylough). Michael and Declan Meehan are the undoubted leaders on a side who were knocked out of the championship by St James’, on a 1-10 to 0-8 scoreline, in the third round last year. Their chances of getting one over their former boss are hampered by injuries to dual players Cathal and Padraig Mannion, Shane Hogan (leg), Rob Kelly (shoulder), and Matthew Killilea (knee).

Verdict: St James’.

Match odds: St James’ 8/13, draw 7/1, Caltra 3/2

Milltown v Caherlistrane

(Tuam Stadium, 5.30pm)

A 32-year wait for the Frank Fox Cup has been a huge source of frustration for Milltown, who seem to get to the business end of the championship almost every year and actually reached the final in 2007, losing by two points to Killererin. Staunch clubman John Concannon is back at the helm for a side who have no injury worries going into this tie. The arrival of double All-Star nominee James Kavanagh, on a transfer from Kildare, is a huge boost to an attack which already boasts two county panellists, Mark Hehir and Micheal Martin.

Larry Bane is back in charge of Caherlistrane, having guided them to the All-Ireland Intermediate final back in 2005, and they are seeking to avenge their 0-9 to 0-5 defeat to Milltown in the third round last year. Cormac Bane (hamstring) has not trained for two weeks, while Brendan Murphy is back after three years in Australia. The manager reports that there are seven Caherlistrane seniors aged under 29 currently living overseas.

Verdict: Milltown.

Match odds: Milltown 2/5, draw 7/1, Caherlistrane 7/4

Salthill-Knocknacarra v Carna-Caiseal

(Pearse Stadium, 5.45pm)

Salthill begin the defence of their crown against a Carna-Caiseal side who won the Intermediate title in some style last year. Former goalkeeper Cathal McGinley has taken charge of the seasiders, who are planning for this tie without Galway captain Finian Hanley (shoulder) and veteran dual star Alan Kerins (work commitments). Sean Armstrong will be hoping to make up for last Sunday’s disaster at the same venue.

There is a tragic background to this tie as Daniel O Conaire’s Month’s Mind takes on the night before the game. Understandably, training has been tough over the past four weeks for Sean O Cualain’s side, who worked hard to get back to the top flight last year. The likes of Donal O Dubhda, Colm Mac An Ri, and Stiofan O Curraoin will be determined to give a good account of themselves.

 Verdict: Salthill-Knocknacarra.

Match odds: Salthill-Knocknacarra 1/8, draw 10/1, Carna-Caiseal 5/1

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