Nightmare 20 hours in 2019 stalks Galway’s elite teams
IT proved the most depressing 20 hours for Galway’s two flagship GAA teams of the modern era and a repeat of that nightmare scenario can’t be ruled out in 2021 after the championship draws were made this week.
On June 15, 2019, Galway hurlers suffered a shock loss to Dublin at Parnell Park which sent them tumbling out of the championship, while the following day the county’s footballers also unexpectedly came to grief against Roscommon in the Connacht final at Pearse Stadium.
The hurlers – beaten narrowly by Limerick in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final – have a bye into the Leinster semi-final and a probable date with Dublin, who will be expected to take care of Antrim in the quarter-final.
The Galway footballers are also pitched straight into a provincial semi-final where they will be renewing rivalry with Roscommon in a clash which is scheduled for Dr Hyde Park.
Similar to 2019, there will be two Galway natives aiming to again plot the downfall of their home county. Mattie Kenny remains in charge of Dublin, while Anthony Cunningham still calls the shots on the Roscommon side-line.
With inter-county squads returning to training last Monday, the GAA season is about to belatedly start with Galway hurlers swinging into league action against Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday, May 8, with the footballers opening their campaign against Kerry in Tralee the following weekend.
But all eyes were on the championship draws this week and, ironically, Galway footballers won’t be displeased at having to travel to Hyde Park for their semi-final battle with Roscommon.
For despite conceding two goals to the Rossies at the venue in the 2018 Connacht final, the Tribesmen produced a strong second-half showing to carry the day on a 0-16 to 2-6 scoreline.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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