Inferiority complex is Galway’s undoing
Yet almost invariably (and I’m not speaking just of the experts here), post-match analysis ignores the margin and concentrates on the result. Let’s take last Sunday’s All-Ireland final, as an example.
The consensus among the fans, Cork and Galway, seemed to be that an experienced Cork side had overpowered a disappointing Galway team, and had won handily enough in the end. Reality? Not as I saw it.
Cork won, five points, worthy champions at that. But, handily? Disappointing Galway? How many saves did Galway keeper Liam Donoghue have to make? One shot, well placed across his body from close range by Ben O’Connor; that was it. One shot, one goal.
Now, what about Cork keeper Donal Óg Cusack? This “disappointing” Galway attack opened up what’s generally regarded as an outstanding Cork defence not once, not twice, but on at least three occasions. Three saves of the highest quality Cusack had to make, another save made of a ball that was going over the bar, quickly dispatched to the other end, where Ben O’Connor pointed for Cork. Handily? I don’t think so.
The fact is, just as they had done in the semi-final win over Clare, Cork again rode their luck on Sunday. Had a couple of the six shots taken by Clare’s magnificent midfielder Colin Lynch crept just the other side of the Cork posts, Cork might not have been in the position to drive on at the finish and steal that win. Had those goal-bound shots of Galway’s not been saved by Cusack, what would the talk have been on Sunday night?
What Cork did again on Sunday last was proved themselves a team of rare championship calibre, a team that rises highest when the need is greatest. What Galway proved is that, even with several vital players under-performing, they were still within an ace or two of the best team in the land. If they take the lessons of this loss on board - the right lessons - Galway will be back in Croke Park next September.
Question, though: why did so many Galway players fall off? Why did David Tierney, Fergal Healy, David Forde, Richie Murray, Niall Healy, Damien Hayes, even Ger Farragher, all fail to live up to their pre-match billing?
Partly, let’s credit Cork, their outstanding midfield and defence. The inside line, especially. I mean, what do you do against the trio of Mulcahy/O’Sullivan/Murphy? Pythonesque, these fellas, all operating in very different ways, but with the same result, they simply suffocate you. The Rock, with his sheer physical force, Murphy with his pace and stickiness, Mulcahy with those long legs, longer arms, wrapping you, enveloping you, tying you up completely, not a millimetre of space to win possession, never mind get off a shot. But it wasn’t all about brilliant defence. The Galway midfield, the Galway attack (with the honourable exception of Alan Kerins) failed because they lacked belief, lacked conviction. They gave Cork too much respect.
Whether they admit it or not, whether they like to see it written, there is a flaw in the Galway psyche when it comes to the likes of Cork in the championship, on the big day. Year after year, decade after decade, Galway have lost games to Cork, to Kilkenny - games they should have won. Galway lose because they don’t believe they’re going to win. There is a collective fatalism about them. In their own minds, they’re simply never good enough. To a large degree, this is because of their isolation, the only hurling county in Connacht capable of competing with the best.
What Galway need is more of what happened this year. They need to be meeting the likes of Cork, Kilkenny, Tipperary, on a regular basis. In that sense, the new system has already worked well for them. Six championship games this year, wins over Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny. They should now take that a step further. Go into Leinster. Take on Wexford, Offaly, Kilkenny especially, in their own den. Beat them. Come out then and take on the Munster boys with reinforced confidence. Shake off that crippling inferiority complex, that western fatalism. Good things will follow.
Sunday last, Galway came close, fell short, but not because of any lack of hurling prowess. They have nothing to learn from this Cork team, from any team, about hurling skill. What they could acquire, however, is a little of the Cork attitude, the Cork arrogance, the kind of belief that is taken for granted Leeside. When they do, watch out. There is a dynasty in Galway, just bursting to get out.
