By Pádraic Ó Ciardha

THE Galway footballers find themselves in Portugal this week on a training camp as Pádraic Joyce and his side look to get one final week of intensive training in before the hustle and bustle of championship begins for them in a little over a fortnight.

While their Iberian escape was never going to involve too many sun loungers or cocktails by the pool, the players might have spent a little longer than expected in a darkened conference room over the last few days, pouring over the action from Sunday’s defeat to Mayo. It will have been an uncomfortable enough watch for many involved as the good form shown in the previous few weeks deserted the Tribesmen in Croke Park.

Momentum was slow in building during the league campaign but, after beating Kerry in Round 7 to secure a third win on the trot and a place in the league final, there was certainly a sense that this Galway side were in a very good place. With the hope that Mayo would have half an eye on their championship opener against Roscommon, there was a quiet optimism heading to Croke Park but while the loss at the weekend is by no means the end of the world, there’s no doubt that it’s a setback and an opportunity lost.

Last season’s championship run should mean Galway have no fear of big games in Croke Park but the loss to Mayo is now the third final Pádraic Joyce’s side have lost at the Jones’ Road venue in the last 12 months and was the poorest in terms of performance.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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