Galway won’t lack for motivation ahead of big Tralee assignment

PADRAIC Joyce will be keeping his fingers crossed that the Galway footballers can hit the ground running – just like last year – in the upcoming National League. In the spring of 2020, the Tribesmen won four of their opening five games in the competition, with their only defeat an unlucky away one to Kerry in Tralee.

Joyce, of course, was just starting his first season in charge and his popular appointment to the Galway manager’s post not alone seemed to galvanise the players, but also led to renewed hope among supporters. There was a feelgood factor about Galway football in those early months of 2020, only for Covid-19 to rear its ugly head.

All the momentum Galway had built-up from those wins over Monaghan, Meath, Donegal and their trouncing of Tyrone in Tuam was lost by forces outside of their control. The resulting lay-off for months and the accompanying uncertainty was a challenging environment for even the most experienced of team managements, never mind rookie set-ups.

It was misfortunate for Galway, in particular, for when they eventually returned to action in mid-October, it was like starting all over again. Things didn’t go well for them, losing to both Mayo and Dublin to end their hopes of the league title before they were denied the opportunity of a Connacht semi-final against Sligo due to a Covid outbreak in the opposition camp.

Being pitched straight into a provincial final against Mayo was far from ideal, especially as they had to plan without the services of injured defender John Daly, while Damien Comer only came on as a second-half substitute due to hamstring trouble. Trailing by five points in the third quarter, Galway were in serious difficulty but rallied bravely with Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy driving them on.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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