Sports
Struggling Connacht face must-win away encounter against Italian minnows
AFTER succumbing to Glasgow Warriors at home a fortnight ago, the Connacht players were given the option of taking a week off, or getting straight back to the training field. They chose the latter.
The players obviously felt that with just two games remaining in the league, improving their performance levels and practicing areas that have let them down in the past five straight defeats, was more important than rest, as they make a final push for qualification to the European Champions Cup.
Part of that extra week’s training included a review of the Glasgow performance – head coach Pat Lam pointed out that Connacht had 37 chances against the Scots and scored just 13 points; Glasgow had 14 chances and scored 31.
He also revealed this week that two of the squad’s most experienced players, who will be leaving the province at the end of the season, took charge of a review session.
Veteran Michael Swift, who retires at the end of the month, and All-Black Mils Muliaina, who has signed for Zebre, gave a rousing presentation to the squad about the remaining two fixtures against Zebre away this weekend, and at home to Ospreys in the final league game of the season.
Muliaina and Swift outlined in detail what Connacht has already achieved so far this season, the club’s most successful ever. And more importantly they pointed out the importance of getting a victory in Italy, which would be their tenth of the season, and would keep alive hopes of Champions Cup qualification.
In their presentation, the departing duo put huge emphasis on the fact that this month, and in these last two games, will be the last time this particular squad of players will be together.
Lam said the presentation was, “really motivating and inspiring”. It sounds more productive, than say, a rest-week. Time will tell.
Lam has confirmed that everyone, who was injured for the Glasgow match, remains out this weekend. The casualty list includes: Jason Harris-Wright, Sean Henry, Nathan White, Michael Swift, Mick Kearney, Quinn Roux, Mata Fifita, Willie Faloon, Jake Heenan, Craig Ronaldson, Conor Finn, Dave McSharry and Mils Muliaina. He will name the starting line-up later this Friday afternoon.
Lam acknowledged that Connacht has “lost control” off their destiny. But he said that’s why the presentation was important, because Swift and Muliaina focused on what they can achieve, in terms of beating Zebre, and putting pressure on the two teams above them.
They must win in Italy to ensure that their Champions Cup qualification hopes go right down to the wire in the last game of the season, against Ospreys on May 16.
Lose to Zebre, who are bottom of the Guinness Pro 12, and Connacht can kiss goodbye to any chance of qualifying for the premier European competition next season.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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