Inside Track: Galway avoiding all the chaos in chase for Sam
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IT'S surely the most unpredictable football championship of all-time. When you see Cork, Tyrone and Louth straight into the quarter-finals after the weekend action, it continues a title race where anything can happen and some results are a real head-scratcher. Remember, the Rebels hardly raised a gallop against Kerry in the Munster Final, while Louth suffered a 10-point mauling to Dublin in Leinster.
But it's been a theme of the championship where pre-match favourites are falling like flies. Donegal losing to Down and Monaghan stunning Derry in Ulster; Mayo and Galway coming unstuck against the Rossies in Connacht; and Westmeath flooring both the Royals and Dublin in Leinster. The All-Ireland series is continuing that trend and leaving the formbook torn to pieces.
Donegal wiping out Kerry in Killarney was a huge shock, followed by Louth turning the tables on Dublin. Last weekend took the biscuit altogether. That same Donegal team being turned over by a resurgent Cork in Ballybofey; while Louth continued their renaissance with a last-gasp win – thanks to Ethan Raftery's mistake – over that same Donegal outfit. Roscommon losing to Monaghan was also a surprise.
Amid all the madness, however, Galway have regrouped well after their Connacht Final setback. Beating Kildare in Salthill was no great challenge, but they stepped up considerably on that form when hosting Leinster champions Westmeath in front of a full-house at Pearse Stadium last Sunday. There may have been only three points in it at the finish but that 3-21 to 2-21 scoreline flattered the Midlanders.
On a day when Cein D'Arcy probably had his finest outing for Galway, the variety to their game was encouraging. They have big primary ball winners all over the field and there has been significant improvement in their game management as well. Two early goals from impressive pair, Shane Walsh and the raiding Cian Hernon, set the tone for a lively encounter.
After their heroics in the championship so far and urged on by a huge following, Westmeath were never going to roll over, but injuries are starting to take their toll and they don't possess the in-depth quality or big-game experience of Galway. When falling nine points behind in the second half, it looked like Westmeath might suffer a hiding, but they rallied bravely in the closing minutes with a goal from sub Jack Duncan helping to cut the deficit to two.
Galway didn't panic, however, and they closed the deal with Shane McGrath notching the final score of the match after another reserve, Damien Comer, fielded Connor Gleeson's kick-out. That was a significant moment in not just getting the Tribesmen over the line, but also showing they possess the capacity to break the other team's momentum.
Ten Galway players made the scoresheet, including Matthew Tierney, who delivered a timely third goal just before the break; and the evergreen Paul Conroy, who came so close to hanging up the inter-county boots last Winter. Now, Padraic Joyce's team have a crucial fortnight's break until their quarter-final and are also hitting form at just the right time.
But, ominously, defending champions Kerry are back on track after their mauling by Donegal. Remember, 12 months ago, they also suffered a bad defeat to Meath in the All-Ireland series, leading to some observers writing them off. They managed to put that loss behind them and, similarly, seem poised to do the same in 2026. Beating a modest Kildare outfit in Newbridge at the weekend was no big achievement, but by the end of the game all their injured players were back, bar Tom O'Sullivan and Sean O'Shea. Kerry remain the team to beat.
Quarter-Finals
THE hurlers of Offaly and Dublin face massive challenges in this weekend's All-Ireland quarter-finals. After imploding against Galway at Croke Park last Saturday week, it's difficult to see the Dubs reviving their championship hopes against a Clare outfit which admittedly cut little ice in their contests with Limerick and Cork.
But the hunch is that Clare's only priority was to come out of the province and they have significant scope for improvement, with the likes of Tony Kelly and Shane O'Donnell still to catch fire. The return of David McInerney and the admirably durable John Conlon has stablised their defence and tough Dublin have a point to prove, the Banner men are unlikely to slip up here.
For all of Offaly's progress in 2026 under Portumna native Johnny Kelly, it would be the shock of the GAA season if they overturn Cork in Thurles. The absence of the unfortunate Charlie Mitchell and ACL injury victim Donal Shirley are blows they could have done without even if the Rebels could be missing their midfield partnership of Tommy O'Connell (broken thumb) and Tim O'Mahony (dead leg) after their narrow Munster Final loss to Limerick.
The winners of this quarter-final will line up against Galway a fortnight later and it's an ideal opportunity for Cork to regroup for that encounter. Yet, as a team, they are not moving as well as last year, with forwards Alan Connolly and Shane Barrett failing to score from play against Limerick. And, of course, there are all those demons stalking them after that still, unbelievable, second half collapse to Tipperary in last year's All-Ireland Final.
Red Letter Day
IT was due to happen last weekend until Galway footballers were drawn at home to Westmeath, but Pearse Stadium will finally host a Premier Division tie when Galway United face Derry City on Friday night (7:45pm) in the first of four games for John Caulfield's charges at the venue while the pitch at Eamonn Deacy Park is being upgraded. Galway GAA deserve great credit for coming to United's rescue in a welcome gesture of sporting ecumenism.