A familiar story, unfortunately. For the second year running, Galway’s footballers were struck down by white-line fever with victory seemingly within their grasp in Croke Park.
Twelve months ago, a three-point lead over Meath in the closing stages of an All-Ireland quarter-final somehow became a three-point defeat. On Sunday, history repeated itself. Despite leading Dublin by six points, Pádraic Joyce’s men conspired to finish on the wrong end of a morale-sapping four-point loss.
It made for a deeply frustrating afternoon from a Galway perspective. Liam Silke’s black card proved a significant turning point, three efforts came back off the woodwork and several officiating decisions left supporters scratching their heads. Yet, when the dust settled, those factors merely masked a more uncomfortable truth. Galway simply did not do enough to deserve victory.
Coming down the home straight, it really should have been Galway with more left in the tank. Dublin had played three weekends in succession — including 90 gruelling minutes against Donegal the previous week — while Pádraic Joyce’s men had the luxury of a weekend off. Instead, it was the Dubs who finished with all the running, outscoring Galway by 1-8 to a solitary point when the game was there to be won. Albeit, with an extra man.
Galway’s route to the quarter-final had also been a favourable one. Victories over Leitrim, Kildare and Westmeath was enough to secure a passage to the last eight, but none of those sides could realistically be described as genuine Sam Maguire contenders. Sunday represented a significant step up in class and, when the pressure came on in the closing stages, Galway simply failed to cope.
Tactical questions remain
The root of Galway’s problems appears to be twofold. Firstly, they seem caught between the old game and the new. They have been slow to fully embrace the more direct kicking game that has become such an important feature under the new rules. Despite possessing a forward unit well capable of thriving with that approach, Galway continue to play too much safe, lateral football while the top teams have moved towards getting the ball forward at every opportunity.
The second issue centres on their kick-out strategy. It is a point I have been making in this column for quite some time. Galway appear to have one default option — go long — but very little in the way of an alternative or a rehearsed routine for those moments when simply securing possession becomes the priority.
It was genuinely infuriating to watch as a supporter and one example stands out. With just over 100 seconds remaining and Galway trailing by three, Conor Gleeson launched another kick-out into a heavily congested area containing, by my count, 19 players. Unsurprisingly, it was claimed by Dublin’s outstanding midfielder Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne. In a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation, surely there had to be a better option.
Whether it was a short kick-out, a pre-planned movement or simply creating space elsewhere on the field, Galway needed something different. That’s not on just the goalkeeper either. It’s the lack of movement in front of him and our inability to create separation, something that’s a coaching issue.
It promises to be a long winter in Galway footballing circles and there is every possibility that some experienced players have played their final championship game in maroon and white. Talk of a rebuild will inevitably gather pace, but there are legitimate concerns about what comes next. Galway have not enjoyed the level of underage success in recent years that would ordinarily provide confidence that a new wave of talent is ready to step seamlessly into senior football.
Pádraic Joyce has already indicated that he intends to remain in charge. However, a thorough review is essential. Too many of the same issues have resurfaced in recent championship defeats for them to be dismissed as isolated incidents. Unless those shortcomings are honestly addressed, Galway risk finding themselves having the same conversations over and over again. Although, it’s hard now to feel that the best chance of an All-Ireland for this group has come and gone.
Eyes on Cork
Attention now turns to the hurlers, who face their toughest examination of the year against Cork in Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final. Galway have already exceeded most pre-season expectations by claiming the Leinster title and reaching the final four, but this is a significant step up in class against a side many regard as favourites for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
That said, Micheál Donoghue’s young side has earned the right to attack the game with freedom. Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan and Cathal Mannion give Galway genuine firepower, while history offers encouragement too. Cork have not beaten Galway in the championship for 18 years.
