Former Dublin Selector Brian Talty Gives His View On Galway’s Prospects
At the beginning of 2018 you’d have forgiven people for priming the current Galway football panel as candidates for relagation from Division 1 of the Allianz National Football League. Seven months later, and the Tribesmen have proved their doubters wrong.
Having won the Division 2 title last year, Kevin Walsh’s side went unbeaten in Division 1. They won six of their seven round games, drawing with Dublin in their Round 6 clash in Salthill. And Dublin ended up being the only side the register a win against them, capturing the Division 1 title.
That defeat didn’t quash any of the team’s spirit. They sent Mayo and Sligo packing in Connacht. Then saw off reigning champions Roscommon in the provincial final. and for their efforts secured a Super 8 slot. They got off to the best possible start beating Kerry. Then followed with a win over Kildare to guarantee their Semi Final berth. Monaghan had other plans in the final phase and that meant Galway would have to prepare for their third fixture against Dublin this year, but this time the stakes are massively higher.
The last time these two teams squared off in the Championship was the 1983 All Ireland Final. And back then former Dublin selector Brian Talty was a member of that Galway panel. The midfielder was injured during an incident in the Croke Park tunnel at half time and didn’t reappear for the second half.
A different Galway Approach
As a Galway native there’s only one team he’ll be cheering for one team this weekend, despite spending several seasons under Tommy Lyons and Paul Caffrey in the capital and spending the majority of his adult life here.
According to Talty, losing to Monaghan has put them in Dublin’s cross-hairs three weeks sooner than they would have wanted. But they must be ready for the challenge once again. But they mustn’t dwell on last weekend’s defeat.
“I expect a different approach because now you are challenging the best team in the country and the best team that has been around for a long time.” He told the Independent.
“There will be a different mental attitude, I’m sure.”
After a clinical win over Roscommon last weekend even without a full panel, Dublin have proved they’re again peaking at just the right time and a performance similar the Phase 3 game against Monaghan will not be near good enough for Galway.
“A lot of people were optimistic about Galway until last weekend. Now sometimes it happens where you have one bad performance you go from being a huge challenger to being nothing. If they played again like they did against Monaghan they have no chance,” he said.
A look to the future
Talty firmly believes that the Galway system, and Galway football is on the rise. But that doesn’t mean they need to be successful this year. They needed to make themselves harder to beat even if their methods have drawn some negativity.
“People are giving out they’re a little bit aggressive. You’re not going to win anything unless you have that intensity and physicality and Galway are getting that now.”
What this year, if anything has done for the Galway players, is grown a winning mentality. And the momentum needed to drive on and progress in the coming years is there. In a similar way he feels that Dublin’s status as All Ireland Champions for the past few years allows them to play more freely and take more chances with confidence.
“When you have All Ireland medals in your back pocket it gives you great confidence, it gives you an opportunity to chance things. The likes of Cluxton wouldn’t be worried about a short kick-out whereas the goalkeeper on the other side might be afraid of it.”
“They (Galway) might not be ready for this year but they are definitely on the right path. What they are doing from a training point of view is very impressive.”