The Galway footballers need to refocus quickly after two consecutive and disappointing defeats to Down and Cavan as they face a revitalised Laois this Sunday in Tuam Stadium (2pm ).
In contrast to Kevin Walsh’s side, Laois started the league poorly with two defeats, but subsequently defeated Roscommon (2-17 to 0-16 ) and drew away to Meath last weekend in a game Tomas Ó Flatharta felt they should have won.
Hence they will be in good spirits coming to Tuam in three days’ time for their rescheduled joust with the home side and they will fancy their chances.
The Galway senior management’s options will be significantly boosted by the likely return to the panel of Corofin players such as Michael Lundy and Gary Sice, and perhaps a few others.
Based on the stilted and extremely flat performance we endured last Sunday in Pearse Stadium, both those men would be likely starters in the forward division.
The fact that Galway could only manage one solitary point from play in the second half against Cavan highlights the lack of cutting and dynamic play from the half-back line up.
It was tedious stuff to watch and reflected a growing concern nationally about the road that intercounty football is on.
Fiontán Ó Curraoin had been in tremendous form in the first few league games, but neither he nor Enda Tierney as able to make any impression around the middle of the field, and Cavan did very well there in the second half through Tomas Corr and Gearoid McKiernan who were both on the scoresheet.
Five points up at half time at a home venue in football, one would expect the team to go on and win the game. But last Sunday Cavan took complete control in the final quarter, and they should have ended the game with a goal when they were three-on-one against a Galway defender.
Galway team manager Kevin Walsh was rightly disappointed by his team’s performance against Terry Hyland’s men.
"We didn't play well enough to win. We're on four points. We have to deal with it and I'm sure there's going to be a battle for up and down in this league. It's disappointing to lose a home game. However, we have to look forward now and try to produce a much better display against Laois next weekend in Tuam.”
With Roscommon (away ) to come in round six, and a last home game against Kildare in the first Sunday of April, next Sunday is a crucial fixture. A loss would see Laois leapfrog Galway and then the talk would be of potential relegation rather than promotion.
The players need to really up the gears and, with the momentum of the returning Corofin lads, produce a performance of which the home supporters can be proud.
Win or lose, at least give us something to cheer about.
