The Perfect Time To Take On Kerry

Date Published: 07-Aug-2008

AT about 6.05pm last Sunday, as Galway manager Liam Sammon and his squad were digesting the news that they would be facing reigning All-Ireland Champions Kerry in this Saturday’s quarter-final, the bookies were already busy lengthening the odds on Galway to lift Sam this year.

What a difference a day makes – by Monday, the Tribesmen had drifted out to a 16/1 chance from 12/1
before the draw was made on TV3. Galway’s centre-back Diarmuid Blake watched the draw from the comfort of his couch in Milltown, and while he hardly had his fingers crossed in the hope that they’d
draw the Kingdom, now thedust has settled he’s looking forward to the showdown with the ‘best’ at Croke Park.

“Well, I thought Kerry were the best team in the draw butlooking at the game against Monaghan – they could have been beaten. It was by far the best game last weekend, it was a very intense game and it could have gone either way but the better team won on the day. Kerry had strength in depth and had the subs to bring on and I suppose Monaghan ran out of steam a bit,” said the 25-year-old accountancy graduate who works at the Clayton Hotel.

“I always thought that the time to meet Kerry is before the semi-final or the final. Once Kerry get a bit of
momentum going at all they’re a different animal. They’re ruthless but they are vulnerable in places and they showed that against Monaghan so I think now is the time to meet them.

“Having the draw six days before the game makes it difficult because…