Tribesmen can claim All-Ireland semi-final place if victorious in Newbridge
A MONUMENTAL win over Kerry it may have been last Sunday for Galway in Croke Park but the dust had scarcely settled on that success when preparations were underway for this weekend’s second-round Super 8s clash with Kildare.
The travelling Galway support to St. Conleth’s Park in Newbridge on Sunday (2pm) will, by way of the logistics of the event, have to be very small with capacity at the ground now reduced to 8,200.
Galway County Board Assistant Secretary, Seamus O’Grady, told Tribune Sport that the tickets for the match had been ‘snapped up’ through the SuperValu and Centra outlets since early this week – the County Board had no tickets for distribution.
“The vast majority of the tickets were bought up early this week through the sponsors’ outlets and we just don’t have any to distribute. The capacity is quite small, and there’s little point in travelling without a ticket,” said O’Grady.
He also advised travelling fans to make a point of going early to the ground as the available seating at St. Conleth’s Park was not reserved and would be filled on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.
Galway manager Kevin Walsh will also be hoping that his side can book a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals on the ‘first-come, first-served’ basis by coming away with the points from Newbridge on Sunday but knows it won’t be easy.
“I just saw bits of the Kildare-Monaghan match on Sunday but it was very competitive and Kildare will present a formidable test. Last Sunday was a good start for us, but it’s only one part of a three-legged league system,” said Walsh.
He will of course have to plan for Sunday without the services of midfielder Paul Conroy who suffered a horrible double fractur of his left leg against Kerry.
Galway’s midfield reserves are being stretched with Annaghdown’s Ciaran Duggan also unlikely to be back after fracturing his wrist against Killanin in the club championship a few weeks back.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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