Galway have edge as western underdogs

TWO provincial finals down. Two surprises. Laois, the national league champions, defeated in Leinster and defending Munster champions Waterford toppled by a resurgent Kerry side, which claimed its first provincial title in 10 years last Monday.

And so to Connacht, where the All-Ireland senior winners of 2002, Mayo, take on last year’s All-Ireland junior winners Galway in Sunday’s final. Mayo are the favourites, but in light of recent results, they will not feel too secure in that knowledge.

The two sides have already met twice this year, first in the league, with Mayo winning by nine points, and under three weeks ago in the second round of the Connacht championship, Mayo again emerging victorious, this time by 10 points.

Third time around psychology is bound to play a big role. So who has the edge: the team with the two wins under the belt or the twice-vanquished side with nothing to lose? In the eyes of Mayo manager Finbar Egan, the pretenders are the ones in control of the mind games.

“We gained a psychological edge the last day when we beat them but that counts for nothing now. We’ve beaten them by 10 points, so everyone expects us to beat them again. The pressure is all on us, and they know it. They, on the other hand, have nothing to lose, nothing to inhibit them,” he says.

“Galway will have learned a lot from the last game and improved greatly They’re at home this time, in Pearse Stadium, where they’ll have huge support. It all counts, so I definitely think any advantage is with them.”

The weeks since their last meeting have been difficult ones for Mayo. On the day of that game, 18-year-old Aisling McGing, a member of last’s year’s panel and sister of current players Michelle and Sharon, was killed tragically in a car accident. Neither of the girls, nor their cousin Caroline, all of whom started in the last game, are listed on the first 15 for Sunday, though all three will be on the bench and available.

The tragedy has had a sobering effect on everyone associated with the team but the players have shown strength and maturity in the face of it.

“It has been very tough on everyone, but especially Michelle, Sharon and Caroline. The players have all responded very well and have rallied around the three girls and we’re delighted they will be with us on Sunday, though it won’t be easy for them.”

Sunday’s clash will also see the return of influential midfielder Claire Egan, who missed the last game due to a groin injury.

Her physical presence was sorely missed in the first game in an area where Mayo are perceived to be vulnerable anyway.

On the contrary, Galway are at their best down the centre of the field. With the towering figures of Lisa Cohill, Annette Clarke and Patricia Gleeson ready, willing and more than able to pluck balls from the sky all afternoon and then embark on powerful runs up field. When the sides met in the league, Clarke wasn’t playing and Gleeson’s mind was mostly on her studies, while Cohill was just beginning to establish herself as regular in the senior set-up. A fortnight ago all three were more influential, with Gleeson scoring a superb goal to level the match with 10 minutes remaining.

In their most recent game, with Roscommon just a week and a half ago, all three performed brilliantly. If that can be sustained, or bettered, on Sunday they could do irreparable damage.

Galway’s excellence as a progressive team and county is not lost on Egan, who says: “They are very strong in midfield, in attack and in the half back line.

They have a superb structure; they’ve won numerous All-Ireland titles at thatunderage level in the last five years and have completely taken control in Connacht. We have plenty of respect for Galway and know how difficult a task we face on Sunday. But Connacht titles aren’t given out for nothing and we want to win it. That is our only aim at the moment.”