Galway get a dose of their own medicine!
THE hunters became the hunted in the space of a week. After their comeback heroics against Kerry in Tralee the previous Saturday, the Galway footballers got a dose of their own medicine at Pearse Stadium seven days later.
Thirteen points ahead after 47 minutes, the Tribesmen were coasting to victory only for the wheels to come off in spectacular fashion. They only managed one more score against the elements as Roscommon pulled off a stunning fightback to shade the spoils.
It was a disastrous outcome for Galway and leaves them looking over their shoulders in terms of relegation. Granted, it appears no lead is bombproof under the new rules, but this was still a demoralising implosion in front of a crowd of just over 6,000.
To Padraic Joyce's credit, he didn't hang the players out to dry in his post-match comments. He must have been deeply frustrated at the throwing away of a winning hand, but largely kept his emotions in check. It was a tough lesson for Galway and it won't be easy to regroup against high-flying Donegal in Ballyshannon on Sunday.
Sure, it's become par for the course for teams to surrender big leads since Jim Gavin's committee revolutionised Gaelic football, but it was disappointing that Galway were utterly unable to halt Roscommon's momentum. Unforced errors were no help, like Johnny McGrath giving the ball away cheaply near the end, but the hosts are an experienced outfit who shouldn't be ripped to shreds like this.
Their defence was cut open too easily. Enda Smith, who seems to reserve some of his best performances for when playing against Galway, powered through for Roscomon's opening goal and from there to the finish, the hosts were on the back-foot. When Smith subsequently set up Daire Cregg for their second goal, the hosts were reeling.
Seán Kelly, one of Galway's better performers, brought the teams level near the end, but Roscommon's tails were up and Smith was again the provider for the unmarked Ciaran Lennon to pop over the winning score and, in the process, make it a third win of the campaign for Mark Dowd's team, the first native of the county to manage the Rossies since 2012.
That finale was in stark contrast to the opening 45 minutes. Galway were making hay, with the likes of Rob Finnerty, Liam Ó Conghaile, Kelly and John Maher leading the charge. It was mostly one-way traffic and Galway were looking certainties to build on their terrific away results against both Armagh and Kerry.
Establishing a commanding 0-19 to 0-6 advantage, Galway were cruising until they weren't. The lack of leadership when the tide was turning against them was alarming and it won't be easy for them to pick up the pieces against table toppers Donegal this weekend.
Routine
It was a very different story for the Galway hurlers across the border in Birr on Sunday. They were efficient without catching fire on a heavy surface against an Offaly team which is still in the development stage. Once again, Cathal Mannion stood a man apart. He was outstanding and the hosts couldn't get a handle on him.
It was also encouraging to see young Aaron Niland – still a little goal hungry – target-man Jason Rabbitte and Colm Molloy also feature strongly in the scoring stakes; while debutant goalkeeper Stephen O'Halloran kept his net intact and also fired over a rousing long-range point from play in the second half.
It wasn't a day for making or breaking reputations, but it was heartening to see Conor Whelan quickly getting to the pitch of the action after his introduction. The former team captain put the seal on Galway's comfortable victory with a smartly finished goal and point in the closing stages.
Up next for the Tribesmen is a home date with Waterford at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. The Deise were unfortunate not to come away with something from Nowlan Park at the weekend, but a poor start cost them despite the Bennett brothers, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh and substitute Sean Mackey all impressing against the Cats.
But the big story from the weekend hurling action was Limerick's demolition of All-Ireland champions Tipperary in Thurles. They didn’t score a goal but still won by a whopping 15 points, with attackers Aidan O'Connor and Sean O'Brien cutting loose. Peter Casey was also in top scoring form, while defensive newcomer Matthew Fitzgerald also impressed.
In this kind of form, Limerick are unstoppable but we also thought that over the past two years. They may no longer be All-Ireland champions but their shadow still hangs over the hurling championship. Their 2025 Munster Final defeat to Cork on penalties was a crushing blow and it left them vulnerable against Dublin in the subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final, but Limerick have the under-rated Darragh O'Donovan fit again, and look like men on a mission.
Ireland
What a win for Ireland in Twickenham on Saturday. For a team supposedly in decline, the men in green produced a stunning performance in laying waste to the English by double scores. Ireland had heroes all over the field, notably scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, but from a sentimental point of view wasn't it great to see Stuart McCloskey having his latest stormer in the Six Nations.
The Ulster centre has been struggling for a long time to become a regular at international level, but McCloskey is certainly making up for lost time on a day team captain Caelan Doris led from the front. Two more victories should follow at home to both Wales and Scotland, but the title is France's to lose.
For Wales, unfortunately, their desperate run continues after being caught late on at the Principality Stadium by a Scottish team which remains woefully inconsistent.