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You are > Home > GAA: Galway grind out deserved win
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Wednesday, May 21, 2003
GAA: Galway grind out deserved win
By: Denise Horan
Galway 0-12, Roscommon 0-8
Shudders were not sent down the spines of prospective opponents by this Galway performance, but the job was successfully completed, at Pearse Stadium last Sunday.
Those who have backed the Connacht champions to retain the title, and even claim the All-Ireland crown, this year may feel uneasy about their money after the opening test, but John O’Mahony will not be unduly concerned. With the back door in operation and the prospect of a long season ahead, he knows that the
championship is now about grinding out results in whatever manner suits the occasion. On Sunday hard work and persistence were the necessary methods.
Expectations of Roscommon were not high in advance of the clash - and they didn’t disappoint the sceptics. Yet 20,000 people travelled to the re-vamped Galway stadium knowing that anything could happen. The Rossies’ ungainly, even awkward, style is hard to break down, particularly for a team who’s first instinct is to be skillful.
But Galway stuck to the task, adapted their play and advanced to the Connacht semi-final, without ever looking troubled.
Young Michael Meehan, in his first senior championship start, looked like an old hand, making himself available at all angles and curling over three fine points. Assisted by the free-taking of Padhraic Joyce, the direct running of Matthew Clancy and the guile of Paul Clancy, Meehan’s contribution set Galway on the road to victory.
At midfield they impressed too. Though Stephen Lohan enjoyed a purple patch early on, Joe Bergin and Kevin Walsh gradually upped the tempo and took control. The experienced Walsh did a fine holding job in the middle sector, making himself available to colleagues who were in trouble, and allowing the speedier Bergin to make some purposeful attacking runs.
And their defending was assured, with wing-backs Declan Meehan and Sean Og de Paor especially prominent. The Roscommon forwards were powerless to break them down, though in truth their principal method of doing so - lobbing in high balls - was never likely to be effective with such a swirling breeze blowing.
This was not championship football at its best - or anything approaching it. It was a scrappy, untidy affair, with John Bannon’s whistle exercised enough for two games. Roscommon lacked style and, more basic than that, they appeared to lack the requisite fitness levels to take on a team like Galway. Thus, a lot of fouling ensued.
Scores were not plentiful and they weren’t always inspiring, sixteen minutes elapsing before the first point from open play arrived. Prior to that Joyce had pointed two frees, Michael Meehan had slotted another and a ‘45, while Nigel Dineen chipped over a free for the visitors, to leave Galway leading by 0-4 to 0-1 at the 13 minute mark.
Meehan’s ‘45 came about when Roscommon’s flamboyant goalkeeper, Shane Curran, rather spectacularly tipped an effort from Derek Savage around the post, after a flying run by the corner-forward. Opinions varied as to whether or not it was goalbound in the first place, but Meehan asked no questions when he stepped up to the place-kick.
Points from Stephen Lohan and Jonathan Dunning brought Roscommon, who had opted to play against the strong wind despite winning the toss, to within a point of the champions by the 17th minute, but that was as close as they got.
Joyce quickly responded with another free, following a foul on Savage, and Michael Meehan arrived a minute later to hit the score of the game from 45 yards out on the right wing. Joyce potted two more frees and Walsh hit a point from play before the interval to leave Galway with a six-point cushion facing into the unkind elements on the turnaround.
Roscommon started the second period well, with fine points by Frankie Dolan and Seamus O’Neill. They also finished with a flourish, pointing three times in the last eight minutes, courtesy of Francie Grehan and Dunning (twice).
It was in the intervening 20 minutes that they lost their way and,
ultimately, their chance of causing an upset. Six wides didn’t help them, but their style of play was impressive and unproductive. Too many times the ball was lofted into the square and swallowed up by Alan Keane or a Galway defender. Plan A back-fired and there was no plan B.
Galway’s use of their vast amount of possession wasn’t up to much either. They owned the ball for long periods and still only managed three scores in the second 35 minutes, albeit three lovely points, two from the lively Paul Clancy and one from de Paor.
And so, after what has become an annual battle of wills in the last few years, Galway go through the front door and Roscommon must seek to advance through the back.
Scorers – Galway: P. Joyce 0-5 (0-5f), M. Meehan 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘45), P. Clancy 0-2, K. Walsh and S. Og de Paor 0-1.
Roscommon: J. Dunning 0-3, F. Grehan, N. Dineen, S. O’Neill, S. Lohan and F. Dolan 0-1 each.
Galway: A. Keane; M. Comer, G. Fahey, R. Fahey; D. Meehan, K. Fitzgerald, S. Og de Paor; K. Walsh, J. Bergin; P. Clancy, M, Clancy, D. O’Brien; D. Savage, P. Joyce, M. Meehan. Subs: J. Fallon for O’Brien (28th min), M. Donnellan for M. Clancy (72nd min).
Roscommon: S. Curran; J. Nolan, D. Casey, B. Higgins; M. Beirne, F. Grehan, P. Noone; S. O’Neill, S. Lohan; R. Cox, G. Cox, J. Dunning; N. Dineen, G. Lohan, F. Dolan. Subs: J. Tiernan for R. Cox (50th min), K. Mannion for Dineen (53rd min), E. Towey for Higgins (56th min).
Referee: John Bannon (Longford)
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