Walsh’s goals help Galway footballers retain Division Two status

Galway 3-12

Kildare 1-12

GALWAY football rose again on Easter Sunday with a convincing win over Kildare at Tuam. Relegation loomed large going into the game, but the Tribesmen are safe in Division Two of the National League for another year after this worthy six-point victory over Kildare, who are now demoted

It was a bit jittery immediately after half-time and again towards the end for 14-man Galway as Kildare piled forward in a desperate bid to avoid the drop, but overall it was a quite comfortable and deserved result.

As it turned out, Galway didn’t need the win to stay safe in football’s second tier due to results elsewhere, but their attitude was admirable from the outset when it was a factor.

It was a game of contrasts. The first half would revive your faith in Gaelic football – free-flowing and intense with plenty of sweet scores, Galway looked back to something resembling their best form of the season. The second half – not so much.

It was bitty, punctuated with injury stoppages that sapped energy and momentum from the game, and the closing stages were a tad panicky – surreal even – as Kildare, nine points in arrears, threw caution to the wind.

The Tribesmen were average in the second half, wasteful in possession (they shot seven of their 10 wides total after the break) and too laborious and sometimes lateral when in possession, but they took their goals well, which proved the difference.

Overall it was pleasing that from the start, when Galway needed to front-up, they were able to and they did. There was real energy and a sense of purpose about Galway’s attacks in the first half, and their directness certainly reaped rewards. A strong work ethic was a feature, too, and the inside forward line in particular set the tone for a high work-rate as they pushed-up and put pressure on the Kildare short kick-outs.

The game’s decisive score, Galway’s second goal, was opportunistic, and had its origins in route-one football. It was badly needed, too.

Galway had made it to the dressing-room with a six-points lead 1-10 to 0-7, but, like they have done on a couple of occasions this campaign, they were slow to get motoring once play resumed.

Kildare sensed blood. The introduction of half-time substitutes, in particular Daniel Flynn, freshened up their approach, and they had Galway on the rack with three white flags in a row from Eoghan O’Flaherty (free), Alan Smith and Flynn.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.