Galway footballers book date with Kerry
The Galway footballers are back in an All-Ireland quarter-final for the first time in six years after brushing aside the challenge of Tipperary in the qualifiers on Saturday evening at Tullamore on a 4-17 to 4-12 scorelines.
Alan Mulholland’s men were full value for this five points win, although there is scope for improvement as Galway look ahead to Munster champions, Kerry, in the last eight at Croke Park this Sunday (2pm).
After a nervous, edgy opening half hour, Galway put Tipperary to the sword with a devastating four-goal blitz seven minutes either side of half-time.
Having not raised a green flag in the previous two Connacht Championship matches against Sligo and Mayo, Galway ‘went to town’ in front of a crowd of 7,837 at O’Connor Park.
The first two goals came from unlikely sources – the two midfielders, Fiontán Ó Curraoin and the hard-working Thomas Flynn – approaching half-time to leave it 2-7 to 0-7 at the break.
Galway then turned the screw big-time with lively corner forward Danny Cummins and the energetic Michael Lundy netting a goal apiece immediately after the restart to quell any slim hopes of a Tipperary comeback.
It’s difficult to know what to make of the action from there to the finish, as the game was over as a contest, but the Galway management will be extremely disappointed at how their defensive frailties resurfaced again.
Galway switched-off and conceded four goals in the last half hour of what had become a bizarre game . . . though they were well executed it was worrying how easily Tipperary men danced through the defensive cover. It finished with a score line of 4-17 to 4-12.
“Croke Park, against Kerry – sure you’d have to look forward to it, and I know all the lads in the dressing room are dying to get a crack at it. Kerry will always be tough, they looked formidable against Cork as if they’re back to their best,” said manager Alan Mulholland after the game.