By Ivan Smyth

GALWAY will be keen to atone for their chastening league final defeat to Kerry when they face into a Connacht final with Mayo at MacHale Park on Sunday (11:30am).

With Maghnus Breathnach and Fiona Wynne’s side lining out as the first game in a double header of provincial finals, Galway will be keen to respond after their 5-11 to 1-10 loss in Croke Park last month.

Breathnach states that Galway have been able to take positives from the campaign as a whole with the Tribeswomen going unbeaten in their first six games before losing to Kerry in a dead rubber clash and subsequently at National Headquarters.

“We had a small reset after the league final. We couldn’t take much time off with the Connacht final coming up. When we were able to look back we saw that we had a very positive league. Getting up to Croke Park was the big thing. We weren’t there in three years, so it was a positive league.”

“The result and performance against Kerry was not what we wanted but it was a big learning curve. We have to learn from that defeat and take lessons forward for the Connacht final.”

Galway possess more game changers and will feel they have built a strong panel, but Mayo will be keen to test the Tribeswomen’s confidence after that league final reversal.

Breathnach contends that although Mayo will test Galway’s mental fortitude, the group have led the charge in trying to respond to that defeat in GAA HQ.

“The response from the players since the league final has been excellent, especially the past week or so. The girls drive the standards, so it is easy for us to facilitate. We don’t need to encourage them to keep going. They always go about their business. The girls who didn’t get game time in the league final are now trying to make an impression in training. The competition is driving standards.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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