Galway’s 2023 Allianz football league campaign kicks off this Saturday evening in McHale Park at 7.30pm.
With both teams sure to be near full strength, having the match on a Saturday evening for the RTE cameras shows the level of expectation and hype surrounding this game.
Galway defied the odds of many GAA people by reaching last year’s All-Ireland final before eventually being edged out by Kerry in a fabulous game of football. Mayo, on the other hand, have brought in a new management team under the tutelage of Kevin McStay who has finally gotten the job he has openly wanted for years.
Both sides will have to do without two very important defenders from 2022, with Lee Keegan retiring and Oisin Mullin throwing his lot in with the Australian rules for 2023. Galway have lost Kieran Molloy to injury for most of if not all of the season and All-Star cornerback Liam Silke has moved to New Zealand.
Both sides will have no choice but to blood new players early on in this competition to replace the calibre of players they have lost. However, this will not be an easy task. With Seán Mulkerrin not yet returned to fitness, Galway will be hoping captain Seán Kelly will be soon back into the side.
Damien Comer got some very important minutes in the FBD loss to Mayo and whether Shane Walsh wants to take a well-deserved break after his All-Ireland club final performance, will be something for himself and the management to decide.
There are no easy games in Division One football, so a good start is essential for both sides involved. Galway will have a home game against Roscommon before a week’s break and another home game against Tyrone followed by an away day in Donegal to finish up February.
March sees Galway host Monaghan before a trip to Armagh on St. Patrick’s weekend with the group stage finishing off with a rematch of the All-Ireland final against Kerry on March 26th.
Having been promoted in 2022 Galway’s first aim must be to consolidate their place for the 2024 season and a win against their old rivals would set them right on the way to doing so.
Mayo won the FBD competition and quite possibly the most important thing they gained from that was welcoming back a fully fit Cillian O’Connor after his most recent injury layoff.
Whatever new players Mayo can come across for the year ahead, there won’t be anything as important as the experienced heads who are still there galvanizing the team on the field.
McStay brought in an impressive backroom team including former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford and the much-heralded Kerry coach Donie Buckley.
Just as important to Galway will be keeping Paul Conroy, Damien Comer and Seán Kelly fit as they are the players that set the tempo for how Padraic Joyce’s teams play. January is certainly coming to an end when inter county football is back, under lights and on the tv.
