Inside Track with John McIntyre

Down to 14-men and two points behind Monaghan at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, it was the perfect time for Galway footballers to remind us of the qualities which took them all the way to last year’s All-Ireland Final against Kerry. They weren’t found wanting.

Ahead of this fifth round Division round tie against the Farney men, Galway weren’t safe from relegation or out of contention for a league final place such has been the tightness of the division, but they looked to have it all do after Peter Cooke’s red card on the stroke of half-time.

He dropped his knees into the chest of Micheál Brannigan’s in an off-the-ball incident and though there are worse sending off offences, Cooke left Cork referee Conor Lane with little option but to hand out the ultimate sanction. Though Galway only tailed by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break and would have wind advantage to come, they were still in a serious predicament.

When goalkeeper Rory Beggan pointed his third free soon after the resumption and Galway drawing a blank for the first 12 minutes of the second half, the outlook was hardly positive for the Tribesmen. It wasn’t the greatest game in the world and Monaghan appeared relatively comfortable operating with an extra man.

A Galway player needed to find a spark of inspiration and right on cue, influential centre-back John Daly nailed a fine effort in the 47th minute. Gradually, the classier home team got to grips with the situation on a day the long-serving Paul Conroy again proved his worth in the maroon jersey.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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