Meehan’s expecting a net gain

MICHAEL MEEHAN says Galway must blitz Dublin with goals if they are to spring a shock in today’s All-ireland semi-final.

Champions Dublin carry a 26-game unbeaten run in Championship football, stretching back to the 2014 All-ireland semi-final loss to Donegal, into the game having breezed through the ‘Super 8s’.

“I expect them to put it up to Dublin in a big way and I think the start of the game is important,” said former Galway star Meehan.

“Dublin will have seen what happened last weekend and they might go and try and kill off Galway very early on.

“It’s going to be fast and furious. Galway will need to absorb that and need to score goals and if they score goals I think they can win.

“I think it’s going to take goals. I want Galway to be in the mix coming down the line and just to see.

“Galway have finished strong in a lot of games. If you think back to Mayo, think back to Roscommon, even in Kildare, the Kerry game they finished strong too.

“You’d hope they’ll take strength and resolve from that and just be willing to really have a go at Dublin for the 70-plus minutes.

“If Dublin pull out their ‘A’ game it’s a different story but you have to live in hope.”

Galway have largely been a model of consistency all year but their performance when slumping to an eight-point loss to Monaghan last Saturday was easily their worst of the campaign.

While acknowledging that the quick turnaround doesn’t help, Meehan believes they can park that disappointment and take the game to Dublin.

He added: “Everyone in the ground from a Galway perspective, players and supporters, were thinking ahead to the following week.

“I think it will have taken a bit of time for the lads to gather their thoughts on it but I think they’re just going to have to write it off.”