Square Ball - 19th August 2009

Written by Frank Kearney

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Who will replace Sammon

Speculation is now rife on who will be Liam Sammon's successor as Galway football manager. With talk of bringing in Mick O'Dwyer at the height of a recession, there would be a lot against it, but there are few creeping out of the woodwork to do the job. Frank Doherty brought Caltra to success and was in charge of Clare and may be interested. Eoin O'Donnellan who guided Salthill could also be a contender.

Former players Tommie Joyce, Martin McNamara, John Donnellan have been involved with club teams, along with respected figures like Frank Morris, Paul McGettigan, Gary Fahey, Sean Og de Paor, Ray Silke, Tomas Mannion and Michael Donnellan have also been mentioned as part of possible line-ups. No matter who gets the job, they need to start and build on a three year plan and forget about immediate success. What a pity that Kevin Walsh is already committed to Sligo. It is only a few years ago, that four Connacht teams contested the national league semi-finals. There has been a huge drop since and Galway are one of those teams that also have to take stock and look at the future.

Defeat comes in pairs

A few weeks ago Galway were defeated in the All-Ireland senior hurling and football championship in the same weekend and last weekend the dream of a senior victory at any level on the gaelic fields were dashed as the Galway camogie team and ladies gaelic football teams made their exit within hours of each other. Of course Galway's dream of a day in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day were fulfilled with the excellent victory of Mattie Murphy's minor side when they qualified to get revenge on Kilkenny for last year's decider. Of course it will not be easy, but at least they are in the final and if you reach it, then maybe it can be won.

Semi-final draws.

The Galway senior and intermediate football semi-final draws were made on Tuesday night but too late to make this publication. On Saturday and Sunday evening large numbers turned out in the newly and excellently revamped Tuam Stadium, but one has to worry about the quality of football. There have been high hopes of an All-Ireland title in Galway football terms in recent years, but with the poor quality of football at club level, it looks a long way off. The biggest draw of the weekend was undoubtedly the clash of Corofin and Killererin and both of those top class teams served up a poor spectacle of defensive play with little to cheer about.

For most of the game it looked as if it would end deadlocked and one would question how Galway football board could even charge for a replay, such was the performance that eventually came good in the end for Corofin.

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