After last week's loss to Mayo, Galway were made to work for a hard-earned draw against Roscommon on Sunday afternoon. The blustery game finished 0-9 a piece with both sides’ failing to score during the last 14 minutes of the game.
There were treacherous wind conditions in Hyde Park which had an obvious effect on the score-line but it was also a game where both sides needed much improved performances after disappointing results on opening weekend.
Sunday afternoon brought some more positives for Galway with Cillian Ó Curraoin impressing on his first NFL start, scoring 0-3 (0-2f ) while Corofin duo Jack McCabe and Patrick Egan made their Galway debuts off the bench late in the second half. Galway also showed much more ‘aggression’ in their performance in the eyes of Padraic Joyce.
Joyce spoke to RTE sport after the game and said: ‘After last week’s performance we’ll take the point with open arms. We definitely put a bit of aggression into the game today, and a bit of passion.’ Joyce said his players were disappointed that they couldn’t push on with the aid of the breeze in the second half but was happy with the improved performance and hoped his team could kick on from here.
With injuries being cited as one of the reasons why Galway underperformed on opening weekend Joyce admitted that some of the younger players have gotten their chance due to these injuries but he wasn’t complaining as Ó Curraoin and Ó Conghaile who both started and Egan and McCabe were all in the 20-21 age bracket and prove that there is still plenty of talent coming through Galway.
Joyce also went into a bit more detail and shared an update on how these players are progressing. He admitted that Cillian McDaid will miss the entire league campaign but that Shane Walsh and Damien Comer will hopefully be ready for action in two weeks for the away game in Tyrone. He added further information on captain Seán Kelly and Liam Silke are in their return to training protocols and they both should see some action in the next two or three games.
Galway trailed 0-7 to 0-4 at the break with points coming from Ó Curraoin (2 ), Rob Finnerty and Matthew Tierney. Galway arrived out stronger after the break and with the aid of the breeze brought it back to a single score game at 0-9 to 0-8 before Donie Smith was shown his marching orders for an incident with Paul Conroy in the 61st minute.
Conroy levelled the game moments later from a free kick but Galway’s numerical advantage didn’t last long as the recently introduced Jack McCabe received a black card for a trip and despite some half chances for either side neither could get a winner with both sides having to settle for the draw after an uninspiring 14 more minutes petered out.
Galway now have a break to try and get some of these players back, and continue their improvements before they play Tyrone in Healy Park on February 18.
