Galway must reach season high to turn tables on Mayo
TWO proud Gaelic footballing counties, Galway and Mayo, go to war at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (1:30pm) – and the prizes on offer couldn’t be greater.
Both chase a 47th Connacht senior football title, a remarkable statistic that underlines just how much value these counties put on a provincial title. Then, of course, there are the bragging rights. Arch-rivals since time immemorial, this should not be underestimated. Their rivalry, alone, will cast its own special power over this fixture.
There is also the added incentive that the victor will progress to an All-Ireland semi-final against Munster winners, Cork or Tipperary, two teams who have plied their National League trade in the lower tiers in recent years. Opportunity knocks for Galway or Mayo; for whichever loses on Sunday, it’s the end of the road for 2020.
With Covid-19 pushing the provincial championships and All-Ireland series into the depths of winter, there is a certain element of the unknown about this one. Already, last weekend, we saw Cork spring the mother-and-father of all ambushes on a Kerry outfit hotly tipped to wrestle Sam Maguire back off six-in-a-row chasing Dublin.
It was not a pretty performance from Cork, but they were smart enough to play the wintry conditions and the heavy ground – not just their opposition. They reduced the Munster semi-final to a battle and, showing a willingness to die for the cause, got their just reward.
For Galway’s part, it will be interesting to see how they approach this Connacht decider on Sunday. Unlike Mayo, who will be lining out for a fifth consecutive weekend between league and championship, Galway have had no championship fixture after Sligo withdrew from the competition due to their squad being decimated by Covid-19 and injuries.
It means the Tribesmen, despite showing superb form in the National League in the spring, come into this game on the back of National League defeats to Mayo and Dublin.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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