Feelgood factor as senior football title race set to kick off

 THERE is nothing like a comprehensive win over traditional foes to get a county’s GAA fans buzzing at this time of year and the heroics of Alan Mulholland’s men at Hyde Park have restored a ‘feelgood factor’ to Galway football ahead of this weekend’s first round of ClareGalway Hotel senior championship fixtures.

All 22 senior clubs in the county go into action on Saturday and Sunday under a new championship format which will see the first round losers go into battle again to see who makes it through the back door and, perhaps more importantly, avoid relegation.

The teams who lose their first two championship games will go into a round-robin series which will see the bottom two go down.

NUI Galway, who could field without a Galway player against Annaghdown, are exempt from the threat of relegation and the ‘back door’ second chance saloon. If College lose on Sunday, there will ten teams in the second round and the losing five will fight it out to avoid relegation; a College win will result in a ‘preliminary’ game before the second round.

Top billing undoubtedly goes to the clash of county champions Corofin and Tuam Stars, which is a repeat of last year’s county final.

Corofin, with four starters on the Galway team last Sunday, are favourites to win their fifth title in seven years.

There will also be huge interest in the city derby between ‘west side’ rivals St. Michael’s and Salthill-Knockncarra, part of triple bill of games at Pearse Stadium on Sunday which includes Kilconly’s first ever senior championship tie.

Galway fans will be keen to see if Michael Meehan can manage a full hour against ClareGalway at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening, as the Caltra sharp-shooter continues his recovery after three years of injury troubles, while club and county legend Padraic Joyce will hope to inspire a battle-hardened Killererin side to yet another championship win over Caherlistrane.

For a match by match preview see this week’s Tribune