Walsh eager to build on weekend win over Derry in home fixture against Meath

AFTER a fruit-laden trip to the North last weekend, Galway footballers will be hoping to pick off more berries nearer to home on Sunday, when they take on Meath at Pearse Stadium (2pm) in the fourth round of Division 2 league matches.

Apart from a lack of defensive concentration in the closing minutes, Galway gave a sparkling performance against Derry and a win over Meath on Sunday would set them up nicely for a serious tilt at promotion.

With the exception of Tyrone, Division 2 of the league though has thrown up its share of inconsistent results and Galway won’t be taking anything for granted against a Meath side that suffered a surprise home setback against Cavan last Sunday.

Meath, by all accounts, went from the good to the ugly, during the course of last weekend’s 1-20 to 1-13 Páirc Tailteann defeat to Cavan, leading by 1-9 to 0-5 at the interval, before expiring dramatically in the second half.

The expanse of Pearse Stadium should be to the liking of a Galway team that looked full of pace and mobility against Derry and the squad continues to grow stronger as many of their long term injury casualties return to training.

Last weekend they suffered a blow to their hopes on Friday night when Fiontán Ó Curraoin pulled a hamstring, an injury that could keep him out of the Meath clash.

Apart from that though, the injury news continues to be generally positive for Kevin Walsh’s side with Finian Hanley, Gary Sice and Cathal Sweeney all getting a taste of the action against Derry.

Danny Cummins’ ankle injury has taken a bit longer than expected to heal but he is close to a comeback also while Paul Varley, Gareth Bradshaw and Patrick Sweeney are also back on the training ground.

Athenry goalkeeper Thomas Dolan, who did well in the matches against Laois and Tyrone, however, has been ruled out of action for the past couple of weeks with a knee injury that could require keyhole surgery.

Manager Kevin Walsh was delighted with the  performance in Celtic Park last Sunday, but is anxious that Galway build on that with a strong display against Meath.

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