Galway produced an epic, lyrical performance in the first half against Dublin last Sunday afternoon. The standing ovation they received as they trouped off at half time for their Jaffa cakes and tea summed up the mood of the paying customers in the stand as they found themselves whipped up into a real "feel-good" moment by the superb free-flowing football of the forwards.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Dublin defence was atrocious in some instances, the three first-half goals by Michael Meehan, Sean Armstrong, and Paul Conroy were all fine scores, giving Galway a 3-7 to 0-5 half-time lead. Of course the conductor in chief was Padraig Joyce.
"Genius" is not too strong a word to describe some of his interventions last Sunday. His vision, composure on the ball, and left foot are something to be admired and cherished. The finesse of some of his passes has to be seen to be believed.
And the way he beat the defender and slipped the pass to Conroy for the third goal was exquisite.
All in all it was a very satisfying 3-12 to 0-13 victory for Liam Sammon, and with Barry Cullinane and Nicky Joyce both pushing for places, and the Corofin contingent to come back over the coming weeks, competition for places should be red hot.
The next game should tell us a lot about the year ahead too as we face Tyrone up in Omagh. If the side comes out of that encounter with two more points, then there can be grounds for some genuine belief that the light ahead is indeed an opening and not an on-coming train.
