Connacht SFC Final: Galway (holders) v Sligo (MacHale Park, Castlebar, 1.45pm Sunday)
THE last time Galway reached an eighth consecutive Connacht SFC Final it presaged their greatest ever era, the All-Ireland three-in-a-row in the mid-Sixties.
The Tribesmen aren’t at that level now but unlike 60 years ago, when they lost for the second consecutive decider to Roscommon, they should still prove too strong for Sligo.
The Yeats County men are clearly on the up under Tony McEntee, having won Division Four, but Galway are levels above them.
Padraic Joyce’s side had a good League and then saw off the Rossies – another Division One team – in the semi-final, albeit in a tense tussle.
Not that it would ever be an actual consideration, but choosing to lose would put the beaten Connacht Finalists into Sam Maguire Cup Group C against Roscommon, Kildare, and – most likely – Dublin, assuming they defeat Louth to retain the Leinster crown.
The western champs will go into Group B along with Tyrone, Westmeath, and the Ulster Final losers, Armagh or holders Derry.
It will be quite the surprise if Galway aren’t in that section.
Sligo have had a much easier route to this stage – first they won away to London, then they crushed New York. Those wins came by 14 and 16 points respectively, so there’s no denying that Sligo did their jobs very well.
They only gave up 12 points in Ruislip, then half that tally against the visitors from the USA in their Markievicz Park home.
However, Roscommon also only managed a total of 12 – 1-9 – against Galway, even on their home turf of Hyde Park, and much of that came in a flurry early in the second half when the hosts got their tails up.
Much is made, quite rightly, of Galway’s attacking talent, but the Tribesmen are also very strong defensively, led by their excellent captain Sean Kelly.
Galway conceded the fewest scores in Division One – just 3-72 (81) – an average of less than 12 points per match. Only Division Two table-toppers Derry had less against them over the entire Allianz Football League.
The most Galway gave up was 1-11, in the opening draw with Mayo, and 0-14, in the final round against All-Ireland champions Kerry.
Sligo might be able to register more than that tomorrow, but it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to contain the Galway attack sufficiently.
As stated before that semi-final against Roscommon an inside-forward line of Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, and Ian Burke poses serious problems for any defence.
Backed up by the half-forwards Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney, and Matthew Tierney, midfielders John Maher and Paul Conroy, and attacking backs, Galway have the ability to score from many quarters.
Sligo did win the last Connacht Final meeting between these counties, back in 2007, for only their third triumph overall, after victories in 1928 and 1975.
Sixteen years on, Sligo are surely set for their 16th senior provincial final loss, with Galway fully anticipated to move level at the top of the roll of honour alongside arch-rivals Mayo on 48 titles.
