Galway offer sprigs of hope for summer hurdles ahead

Tyrone 1-14Galway 0-13

FRANK FARRAGHER at Tuam Stadium

No dishonour in defeat with all of the honest virtues present in abundance, but yet Galway will look back at  this National League tie at Tuam Stadium on Sunday and just, maybe for a few moments, wryly wonder about what might have been, had a couple of things gone their way against league leaders Tyrone.

On balance, Tyrone did look to be the better side – they were that bit sharper in mopping up the breaking ball; they were more clinical in attack and they moved both and man and ball at championship pace, but yet Galway weren’t that far behind them for large chunks of an entertaining Division 2 tie.

About 3,000 people turned out at the old stadium for this match, with a big contingent of Tyrone supporters present, and for the most part they were treated to a high intensity and sporting contest.

Tyrone are on their way to Division One of the league with maximum points from five games and while they may not be everyone’s cup of tea with their raw intensity and crusading zeal, their absolute zest for the game has to be admired.

That passion is evident in their support too and it has all contributed to a belief that Tyrone can mix it with the best in the white heat of championship battle – this all made for a true test of Alan Mulholland’s young side as they try to build for the future.

For most of the opening period, Galway did manage to match the speed and intensity of the Tyrone challenge, only falling behind by two points – 0-7 to 0-5 – in the closing stages of the half, but the outcome of the match was effectively decided in the first eight minutes of the second half.

The closing spell of that first half was played through an absolute cloudburst of rain and hailstones with underfoot conditions getting very tricky for a time – it was typical Irish ‘four seasons all in one day’ March weather, with the rest of the game played through pleasant sunshine.

Galway, in the first half, had troubled Tyrone with the long punts into the full-forward line and twice in the opening two minutes of the second half, full forward Paul Conroy secured possession and managed to squeeze out a yard or two of free space.

On the first occasion his low drive from inside the penalty spot was superbly stopped by the leg of Tyrone ‘keeper Jonathan Curran, while a minute later, a second effort from no further out, just drifted a foot wide of the left hand post on the Cloonthue end of the ground.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.