Galway now have it all to prove after being scalped on home turf

UNLESS the Galway footballers were pulling the wool over our eyes on a grand scale, they couldn’t have picked a more inopportune time to have produced their worst display of the year when falling meekly to a determined and under-rated Monaghan outfit in the final round of the Super 8s at Pearse Stadium last Saturday. The Galway players wouldn’t have been human if they struggled to reach the necessary motivation levels given that they were already through to the All-Ireland semi-finals, but there was still a big prize on offer for them in Salthill – avoiding four-in-a-row chasing title holders Dublin at the penultimate stage of the championship. Not for one minute do I believe that Galway were playing silly beggars. Their camp would have wanted to beat Monaghan, but when you not faced with a do-or die scenario – as their opponents were – standards can drop. Kevin Walsh’s men lacked bite and there was a flatness about their play even if undoubtedly committed. It was just that Monaghan wanted it more. They devoured the breaking ball; attacked with purpose and width; and had plenty of individual inspiration, not least in Ryan McAnespie, who kicked four terrific points from play, workaholic Dermot Malone, team captain Colin Walshe and tireless midfielder Darren Hughes. After the trauma of a first ever championship win over Kerry being denied with virtually the last kick of the game in Clones a fortnight earlier, Monaghan’s mental mettle was being tested like never before ahead of their trip West. Malachy O’Rourke’s admirable squad have a track record of falling to get over the line in the key matches, so they had plenty to prove. Monaghan, however, silenced their critics in emphatic fashion. They virtually bossed the game from start to finish and beating Galway – even a partially switched off opposition – by double scores on their home turf is no mean achievement. They now face old rivals Tyrone on Sunday in what will be the Farney men’s first semi-final in 30 years and, wouldn’t it be heartwarming if the county with the fourth smallest population in the country could make it to the decider. Unfortunately, Galway face a challenge on an altogether different level on Saturday evening. It’s tough enough have to face the Dublin juggernaut at the best of times, but coming into the fixture just a week after a disappointing defeat and momentum stalled makes the challenge all the more formidable. Kevin Walsh and his backroom team face a mighty challenge in lifting morale and clearing their players’ heads in such a space of time. Of course, we are all aware that sometimes a team can be at their more dangerous when having a point to prove and coming off the back of a big setback, but Galway looked so out of sorts at Pearse Stadium, Damien Comer and his team-mates will have to turn themselves inside out to have any chance of upsetting the Dubs.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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