Inside Track: Galway must lift game for resurgent Rossies
BACK in the days of knock-out Gaelic football when only four teams would still be standing after the provincial championships, winning Connacht titles carried a lot more value than they do now.
Once the All-Ireland qualifiers were introduced in 2021 – a year in which Galway became the first “backdoor” champions – the football title race continues to become more democratic where teams can still get their hands on Sam Maguire even if losing twice along the way.
Only once before have Galway captured five Connacht titles on the trot (1956 to 1960), but they have the opportunity of emulating that feat at Hyde Park on Sunday when coming up against resurgent Roscommon.
But regardless of the outcome, the Tribesmen will be only one of 16 teams still in the hunt for All-Ireland glory after the conclusion of the provincial championships – a scenario which clearly devalues success out West, up North, down in the South or in Leinster.
Though the real business only begins after the Ulster and Leinster deciders are staged the weekend after next, Galway will still be anxious to hit the All-Ireland series on the front foot after an up and down league campaign when coping with a significant casualty lost.
Among the highlights was Rob Finnerty's late winner away to Armagh and a rousing comeback to draw with Kerry in Tralee, but there were bad days too, losing at home to Mayo in the first round and surrendering an 11-point half-time against Roscommon in Salthill, with Ciaran Lennon landing the stoppage time winner.
The Rossies had been tipped for demotion from Division 1, but apart from suffering a bad beating from Dublin at the Hyde when the pre-match favourites, they have been fairly consistent under new manager Mark Dowd.
And after thrashing Mayo at MacHale Park in the Connacht semi-final, Roscommon are entitled to believe that they can capture a first Connacht title since 2019
And after thrashing Mayo at MacHale Park in the Connacht semi-final, Roscommon are entitled to believe that they can capture a first Connacht title since 2019. They simply blitzed Andy Moran's men in the second half, with Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith leading the way.
Furthermore, they will have the in-form Daire Cregg available for the visit of Galway after his one-match ban for picking up a red card against New York, but the Connacht Final is still expected to come too soon for defender Brian Stack (shoulder).
The big question, however, is can Roscommon back up their comprehensive victory over Mayo? They have tended to buckle when supporters' expectations are high and came up nine points short against Galway in last year's semi-final.
But it was difficult for neutrals not to have been seriously impressed by the way they dismantled Mayo a fortnight ago. Their athleticism and energy were notable. Eoin Ward and Senan Lambe attacked the breaking ball with vengeance, while Dylan Ruane and Darragh Heneghan also came up with important scores.
The previous day Galway stumbled past minnows Leitrim. Winning by an unconvincing five points summed up a display which was a long way off what supporters expected. At least, game time was got into Cillian McDaid, Shane Walsh and Damien Comer.
Of course, Galway have the capacity to be much better but there is growing concern that the team hasn’t undergone much rejuvenation over the past five or six years. A lot of the same soldiers are still operating on the front line for the maroon and white.
All the same, you have more trust in Galway to produce a big-day performance, but if the Rossies bring the same tempo to the final as they did against Mayo, it will be no surprise if Enda Smith and company carry the day.
WHAT a game at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday when Monaghan somehow ended up in the Ulster final after twice trailing Derry by ten points. Demoted from Division 1 in the spring, the outsiders pulled off a stunning win in a mad-cap finale to both normal and extra time.
Monaghan were so passive and outclassed in the first half, it was impossible to see a way back for them, but they brought a lot more bite to their play on the resumption and were only two behind heading into the dying seconds, desperately trying to engineer a match-saving score.
When the ball went over the sideline just before the hooter sounded, referee Noel Mooney blew the full time whistle only to do a U-turn after realising that Monaghan were entitled to take the lineball. The odds were still stacked against Jack McCarron finding the target, but he swung over an outrageous kick to send the match to extra time. It was arguably the greatest big-match levelling score ever seen in Gaelic Football.
Extra time continued the chaos and with the last kick of the semi-final, Rory Beggan cemented his place in Monaghan football folklore with a winning two-point free from around 55 yards. No wonder there were scenes of unrestrained joy at the final whistle. Hats off to Monaghan, but they will face a different beast in Armagh in the decider.
WE were so looking forward to another humdinger between Clare and Limerick in Ennis on Sunday only for their latest clash to turn into an unexpected rout. The Banner men were beaten in every facet of the game by ruthless opponents who were missing two of their top stars in Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane. In this mood, Limerick are nearly unbeatable.
How many runners did Willie Mullins have at the five-day Punchestown Festival? Would you believe a staggering 108 – more than many Irish trainers would have in a year. Mullins ended up with 13 winners and easily overhauled Gordon Elliott to capture a 20th Trainers' championship.