Footballers must show ‘lawless’ streak in quest for redemption

THE time has come for Galway footballers to break free from the type of disparaging pigeon-holing of them which has been all the rage since their surprise Connacht final defeat to Roscommon last Sunday week. You know the kind of stuff that’s lazily thrown around. . . they don’t have it; aren’t good enough; you can’t trust them; they lack bottle.

This is the same group of players which had been feted for their consistency in the league, securing promotion to Division One and for taking Mayo’s scalp for the second year running in the championship. All it takes, it seems, is one poor day at the office to change the public mindset and virtually write off what had been a progressive season up to then.

In retrospect, Galway were more vulnerable than any of us had anticipated against a fired-up Roscommon squad which had no shortage of causes in their corner. Like the Tipperary match last year, they didn’t cope very well when rattled early on and there was an undoubted lack of believe in their ranks when trying to pull each game out of the fire.

The Galway players have to be hurting after falling heavily to Roscommon. They also shipped plenty of flak and the squad’s character has been questioned. In these circumstances, it’s not as easy to regroup as some observers might think. Confidence has taken a hit and trying to get things back on an even keel in less than a fortnight for a do-or-die clash with Donegal isn’t a formality.

In a sense, you’d like to see Galway throwing caution to the wind on Saturday, playing like men possessed who have reputations to restore and pride to regain. They have some very talented footballers and they need to express themselves, especially now that their backs are to the wall. Playing safe is not an option for the Tribesmen.

Raw commitment is required; lost causes have to be chased like never before; and the players have to place an unyielding trust in each other. Most people outside the Galway dressing room expect them to lose to Donegal, but that doesn’t matter a damn. It’s all about what the Galway players feel and want. In a nutshell, they have to stand up and be counted, and rail against the critics.

In his column in last week’s Irish Times, former Kerry footballer Daithí O Se was lauding Brian Cody’s ‘lawless’ attitude on the sideline against Waterford. The Kilkenny manager didn’t care who he upset or what rules he infringed in Thurles; all his focus was on winning and getting the last ounce out of his team. Galway will need that mood of lawlessness against Donegal.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.