Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KINGDOM ON BRINK AFTER TRIBE SHINE
KEVIN WALSH continues to realign Galway with the standards they set during his best days, and beyond.
As box-ticking exercises go, yesterday was extremely satisfying for Walsh and Galway.
It was a first Championship win at Croke Park since the 2001 All-ireland final defeat of Meath in which Walsh played (inset), ending a winless run of 10 games at GAA HQ having lost four times to yesterday’s opponents alone in that run.
But even a win over Kerry long predates Walsh’s playing days, their previous success against the game’s traditional standard bearers coming way back in the 1965 All-ireland final.
Most importantly, however, Galway got two match points to take control of Group 1 with a trip to Newbridge to face Kildare next Sunday followed by a home tie against Monaghan two weeks after.
It gives Galway a huge opportunity of reaching the last four of the Championship for the first time in 17 years and, given they’re most likely to top the group on the back of yesterday’s result, the route to the final becomes more negotiable.
In his first senior Championship game at Croke Park, David Clifford certainly wasn’t found wanting, the Fossa teenager hitting 1-5, all but a point of it from play.
Apart from him and Jason Foley, who shackled Damien Comer well, it’s difficult to think of a Kerry player that distinguished himself as their winless run at Croke Park stretched to four matches.
Though Paul Geaney put Kerry in front in first half injury time, there was still enough time for Shane Walsh to slot a free and Ian Burke, Galway’s best forward, to put them 0-6 to 0-5 up at half-time. The lengthy added time came after a double leg break for Galway midfielder Paul Conroy.
Killian Young was dismissed on a straight red card following an off the ball incident with Burke and when sub Michael Varley kicked two points shortly afterwards, Galway were in firm control though suffered a red card of their own when Eoghan Kerin received a second yellow in injury time.
Galway struck on the counter as sub Patrick Sweeney goaled at the second attempt before Clifford rounded off a fine personal display with a late goal.