By DARREN KELLY

AFTER a week off to lick their wounds, Galway return to National Football League action on Sunday (Tuam Stadium, 1:45pm) when they take on Tyrone.

Results wise, it’s hasn’t been a good start for the Tribesmen with just one point from two games and another defeat will make reaching a Division 1 Final virtually out of their grasp.

Indeed, this is the first of a block of three games where Padraic Joyce’s charges really need to secure two victories (they’re away to Donegal in Round 4, before hosting Monaghan on March 5) or a relegation dog-fight will await last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

“It’s going to be a tough battle,” stated Galway captain Sean Kelly during the week. “Obviously, a bit of disappointment with our first two results, throwing it away against Mayo and obviously the last minute score by Roscommon.

“They’re obviously tough games and every game in Division One is tough. At the same time, they were there to be won. We didn’t capitalise on that.”

History is on Galway’s side ahead of the visit of the Red Hands. When the teams last met three years ago, also in Tuam, Galway were emphatic 2-25 to 0-12 victors over Mickey Harte’s team. A similar score would be a welcome tonic for the hosts.

On that day, Shane Walsh kicked 1-8 with Paul Conroy contributing 1-1. But the former is not expected back yet and Galway’s attack is still without Patrick Kelly and Rob Finnerty, while Damien Comer’s knee injury the last day against Roscommon was a blow to league ambitions.

There are only six maroon and white players involved against Tyrone three years ago likely to line up on Sunday. Connor Gleeson, Sean Kelly, Johnny Heaney and Cillian McDaid started in February 2020, with Conroy and Dessie Conneely coming off the bench.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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