Galway travel to Derry this weekend as they aim to continue their flawless start to the Allianz Football League campaign.
Pádraig Joyce’s side ran out comfortable winners over Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar two weekends ago by a score of 0-26 to 0-16. It was the Tribesmen’s biggest victory over their neighbours in over 40 years.
Shane Walsh will be looking to build on his man-of-the-match display against Mayo. The forward scored nine points with four of those being two-pointers as the new 40m arc rule enhancement showcased his shooting prowess. Cillian Ó’Curraoin also impressed as he shot three two-point frees that kept their opposition at arm’s length.
Galway showed durability in the Mayo clash, as they were down 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval before outscoring their opponents 0-18 to 0-9 in the second-half. Joyce will be hoping for similar long-range shooting display as his side amassed seven two-pointers in total.
Galway are now top of Division One. Derry sit in seventh and are in search of their first victory of the league campaign.
In their last match, Derry lost to Kerry by a score line of 5-15 to 1-24 after two Kerry goals in the last 90 seconds snatched victory away from Paddy Tally’s side. Derry were leading by three at 1-24 to 3-15 at the death, two defensive lapses in the final two plays of the game handed goals to Kingdom substitutes Donal O’Sullivan and Paul Geaney to flip the game on its head.
Derry will no doubt be looking to right the wrongs of that defeat at Celtic Park this Saturday. Equally, Pádraig Joyce’s Galway team will want to keep up this flawless start to the league campaign.
Throw-in at Celtic Park is 5pm on Saturday, February 15.
