![Galway’s Damien Comer protests being held by Monaghan’s Killian Lavelle in action from the GAA Football All Ireland preliminary quarter-final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. [Photo: Mike Shaughnessy]](http://www.advertiser.ie/images/2024/06/142136.jpg "Galway’s Damien Comer protests being held by Monaghan’s Killian Lavelle in action from the GAA Football All Ireland preliminary quarter-final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. [Photo: Mike Shaughnessy]")
Galway struggled through a poor Monaghan side last Saturday, but showed glimpses of how they can give themselves a chance against Dessie Farrell’s side.
Despite playing with the aid of a strong wind, Galway stuck to their guns and played their system very effectively after a tough opening period. Having scored just three points in the opening 30 minutes, Galway rattled off three quickfire scores to lead by the minimum at the break, but the strong second half showing boosted by Damien Comer back off the bench meant Galway managed a further eight points against the elements using the big men around the middle to great effect.
The second game of a double header which sees Armagh play Roscommon at 4pm, Galway will need goals if they are to beat the Dubs. Despite not scoring many this year they have been able to hold out the opposition in all bar one of their championship games, and the goal they did concede came from a Galway mistake.
The added bonus of Comer’s return is the directness at which he plays his football. He showed this to great effect in the Connacht final against Mayo, creating three openings for his side in the first half alone. If Comer gets any space at all he will create chances. Any Dubs trying to stop this big Annaghdown man having a strong influence in the game means gaps will open elsewhere for the rest of the Tribesmen to get forward.
Galway did lose Shane Walsh to an injury in the first half, but Padraic Joyce didn’t seem too concerned about his players’ fitness. Walsh, Paul Conroy, Matty Tierney, Rob Finnerty and Johnny Heaney are all well capable of putting the ball over the bar from 40 yards out, so once Galway can get into the Dublin half they will need to be clinical.
In defence, the match-ups will be key to attempting to reign in Dublin’s free-scoring attack. Johnny McGrath, who has been given man-marking duties all year, will have his pace tested if he is matched up with Paul Mannion. Seán Fitzgerald, like many others, struggled in the league game when on O’Callaghan, but with the extra protection of Seán Kelly and possibly Cillian McDaid sweeping in front of him, he should manage better.
Dylan McHugh or Liam Silke are bound to be given the job of curtailing Ciarán Kilkenny’s influence in the game. Silke has for years done a job on many of the top forwards in the country. Allied with the tactical nouse of McHugh, Silke will give the six-time All-star plenty to think about on the day.
If Galway’s defensive structure is on point, and can break quickly and effectively, then the Tribesmen shouldn’t be too far off beating Dublin for the first time since the 1934 All-Ireland final.
With the game throwing in at 6.15pm and only on GAAGO, the GAA will be hoping to have a large crowd there for the two games.
In the other two quarter-finals which will be played on Sunday, Donegal will play Louth at 1.15pm, and Kerry will play Derry in a repeat of last year’s semi-final at 3.15pm.
