Inside Track with John McIntyre
LOOKING at the quality and pace – the rival players appeared to be in perpetual motion – of Sunday’s Division One football league final between Kerry and Dublin, it would be tempting to jump to the conclusion that Galway still have a long journey to travel in order to challenge the game’s leading powers.
Even if the Tribesmen had found themselves squaring up to either Kerry or Dublin in Croke Park’s showpiece match last weekend, the gap between them mightn’t have been nearly as big as some observers would anticipate. Kevin Walsh’s squad remain a work in progress, but there was a lot to like about their Division Two triumph over an improving Kildare.
Galway had to dig deep when the title looked to be running away from them in the second-half, while the depth of the panel is certainly at its strongest in quite a few years. It leaves them heading into the championship on the front foot and if they can keep this year’s rate of improvement going, there is no reason why they can’t make an All-Ireland semi-final.
If anything last year’s shock quarter-final defeat to Tipperary could prove a medium term blessing in disguise. Galway clearly weren’t ready to tackle the game’s elite at that stage, but they have put that big setback behind them and it will be a more mature, experienced and battle-hardened outfit which will head into the All-Ireland championship in 2017
Furthermore, the emergence of Michael Daly is a significant addition up front, while Sean Armstrong’s short-lived inter-county retirement increases the attacking options as well. The return to form of Shane Walsh is also heartening, but when he is shooting at the posts, it’s like watching two different players at times. He can land points with great conviction only on other occasions to harmlessly sent the ball wide or leave it short into the goalkeeper’s hands. With better decision making, Walsh has the capacity to light up this year’s championship.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
