Rejuvenated Galway

Date Published: 24-May-2007

It must be good to be a Galway football supporter this week. The Tribesmen have ‘bate’ Mayo, on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-9, and a Connacht semi-final joust with Leitrim or London, who play their quarter-final tie this weekend, awaits. Yes, Summer is here; the championship has well and truly arrived.

For Galway fans, so many positives can be taken from Sunday’s performance. A solid showing from Tuam Stars’ Paul Doherty in goal; an iron-jaw defensive display led by juggernaut Damien Burke, more of that anon; and flowing, sweeping movement up front that would put the so-called professionals of Man United and Chelsea in Wembley the day previous to shame.

Then you had the likes of the older guard turning back the clocks — stalwarts such as Derek Savage, Ja Fallon and Padraic Joyce — all of whom showed an appetite for the game that would seem as insatiable today as it was when they first walked up the steps of the Hogan in ’98.

It may only be the first round of the Connacht senior football championship, but, at times, there was a touch of the champagne football about it.

It was almost surreal. Indeed,when Caherlistrane’s Cormac Bane crashed home the first of his two goals for the home side on two minutes, one Galway supporter turned to a steward and asked for the “cushions and reclining chairs”. Yes, it was going to be that sort of day.

Yet, isn’t this what championship is, and should be all about? Fine football……….