Inside Track with John McIntyre

IT’S been an unpredictable All-Ireland senior football championship so far. The provincial title races have yet to hit full tilt, but already Tyrone, Cork, Mayo and Leitrim have fallen by the wayside. At least those results will have Galway on their guard when they head to the Hyde on Sunday.

All the talk had been about a potential Galway and Mayo provincial semi-final in the wake of the counties’ recent Division One final, but the Rossies blew that expectation out of the water when a disciplined defensive display helped them to a surprise win over the new league champions at MacHale Park.

A curious aspect of the modern-day rivalry between Galway and Roscommon is that both teams fare better in each other’s backyard. The Rossies have executed two Connacht final triumphs at Pearse Stadium in recent times, while the Tribesmen haven’t lost a championship tie at Hyde Park for 33 years.

It’s an interesting backdrop to Sunday’s Connacht semi-final and while Galway are the understandable pre-match favourites, they are going to have to bring their A-game to prevail as a resurgent Roscommon – under new manager Davy Burke – would love nothing better than to take down the ‘big two’ in the province.

With fitness doubts over All-Star midfielder Cillian McDaid due to a groin injury, Galway must come up with some plan to curb the influence of Enda Smith, who invariably thrives in clashes with the men in maroon. Together with Diarmuid Murtagh, he was the big influence in their victory over Mayo and remains the spiritual leader of the team.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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