Galway football supporters will have their last opportunity to see Alan Mulholland’s new-look side in competitive action on home soil for a few weeks when they take on Sligo this Sunday at Tuam Stadium (2pm ) in the final round of the FBD league.
Sligo are managed again this season by Mulholland’s former 1986 All-Ireland minor winning teammate, Kevin Walsh, and they will ply their trade in division three of the NFL in the coming months.
Sligo defeated Sligo IT last weekend on a score-line of 1-9 to 0-6 - the goal the result of good work by midfielder Eugene Mullen and finished by Johnny Davey. Colm McGee and Alan Costello also raised flags for the 2007 Connacht champions.
Galway also won last Sunday, defeating London by 1-15 to 0-8, in Duggan Park.
The most positive aspect of the game was that it was the first time that Killererin player Nicky Joyce wore a maroon jersey since Joe Kernan was in charge in the championship of 2010.
It was good to see Joyce back in action at county senior level and his quality and influence was plain to see. He notched three points from play and also provided assists for a few other scores. If Michael Meehan is unavailable for the NFL due to his on-going ankle injury, it would be terrific if Joyce, who is a proven score getter, was back in action for the county side.
Galway led at the small whistle by 0-9 to 0-3 with Cormac Bane 0-3, Michael Martin 0-2 and Nicky Joyce 0-2 to the fore, while Caherlistrane’s Eric Monahan and Michael Boyle were also on the scoresheet.
Milltown’s Michael Martin did well and he hit 0-3 at the start of the second half to put some daylight between the sides.
London, who had Maigh Cuillin’s Sean Bradshaw, Salthill’s Austin Concannon, Eoin O’Neill from Renvyle, and Oranmore’s Mark Gottsche in action, lifted their performance and it was only a four-point game with 15 minutes remaining.
As one would expect - London had played NUIG on Saturday - Galway finished stronger and Martin netted from the penalty spot after a raiding Garret Bradshaw had been fouled.
After Sunday, the next time Galway play at home will be against Louth on February 12 in the second round of the National Football League.
Galway: M Breathnach, K McGrath, F Hanley, C Halloran, D O’Reilly, G Bradshaw, G Sice, P Conroy (0-1 ), T Flynn, E Monahan (0-1 ), M Hehir, M Boyle (0-1, f ), M Martin (1-05, 4fs 1-0 pen ), N Joyce (0-3 ), C Bane (0-3 1 f ). Subs used, T Fahy, JJ Greaney, C Rabbitte, G O’Donnell.
