Liam Sammon's promising Galway outfit will be seeking a hat-trick of January victories tomorrow night in Loughgeorge to book a place in the Connacht FBD League final.
Having defeated Sligo and Leitrim with some moments of genuine ability, Galway are diligently preparing for the February 1 NFL opener at Mullingar where Westmeath will offer a tricky test.
Last Saturday's 0-12 to 0-8 triumph over Leitrim featured many encouraging displays as Galway were never seriously troubled by their understrength opponents. Niall Coyne, David Finnegan, and Diarmuid Blake were solid in a defence that has been composed, despite playing two matches in tricky underfoot conditions.
At centrefield Gary O'Donnell's adeptness at driving through tackles and covering the ground impressively ensures a run in the more rigourous environs of the NFL is highly possible. In attack newcomers Jonathan Ryan and Martin Coady have been bright and busy alongside the established Cormac Bane and Nicky Joyce, who continue to demonstrate their kicking ability.
Joyce hit four points, Ryan struck three, while Bane banged over two smashing scores.
Sammon is delighted with how youth and experience is blending.
"It is the established players who give the younger guys the opportunity to play and express themselves. It is great for the younger lads to know that if they make a run, they will more than likely get the ball so that is encouraging for them. They are very confident lads and they are playing that way.
"It is another win and that is what January football is all about - trying to get a few wins before you get into the league. The first half was encouraging, but in the second half I felt we went out of the game a little bit which was slightly similar to the Sligo game. When we were ahead we seemed to take the foot off the pedal a bit and that is a dangerous thing to do because you are allowing the other team back into it.”
Sammon has a further opportunity to scrutinise at Loughgeorge as GMIT feature Paul Conroy and Michael Martin.
While GMIT suffereed a 5-13 to 1-9 loss to Sligo, that game was all about the Yeatsmen's superior power and force. Kevin Walsh's charges were a tad unlucky to be nudged off by Galway at Tourlestrane, but they were eager from the outset in Williamstown as GMIT just did not have the physical strength to survive.
Still with Conroy providing subtlety at midfield, and Roscommon's Donie Shine effective in the half forward line, GMIT have sufficient skill to threaten UCC in the Sigerson Cup on February 4. That is the contest that matters most to GMIT, and when Collins, Curley, and McHugh have a full deck from which to choose there is no doubting the fact that they will be competitive.
That is precisely what NUIG are at the moment and a berth in the FBD decider is a possibility for Eoin O'Donnellan's students. NUIG were admirably courageous when grabbing a draw at Kiltoom as Gareth Bradshaw snatched a late-gasp leveller to deny Roscommon.
Despite being without a host of intercounty panellists, NUIG have been effective in their two outings to date. Mayo were not permitted to mount a serious challenge at Dangan, and while Roscommon appeared likely victors, NUIG still attained a division of the spoils. Now NUIG enter their last group game of the competition knowing that a success over Sligo IT should bring them into the final again if Mayo can outfox Roscommon at Ballyhaunis.
Connacht FBD League fixtures: Friday January 16, Galway v GMIT ( Loughgeorge 7.30pm ); Sunday January 18, NUIG v Sligo IT (Dangan 2pm ).
