Forde points to the 50/50 challenges forwards lost

PETER FORDE will have nightmares about the alarming inability to capitalise on scoring opportunities. In time it may very well determine his future as Galway football manager.

For the second game in a row he had to endure the heartbreak of seeing his team lose by a single point. And clearly it was worse in Pearse Stadium on Saturday than the Connacht final — when they went under to a dramatic late score from a free.

This time, losing was all about letting victory slip through their fingers. Yes, Westmeath were very effective in defence, he agreed, but Galway hadn’t been able to make their possession tell during a second half when they were assisted by a powerful wind.

Without being disparaging towards his own players, one comment was very revealing. “In fairness, the Westmeath backs were very good, they won a lot of the 50/50 challenges,” he said.

To give him credit, he was in no way bitter, just perplexed about the way the game had been lost. And yet, as disappointed as he was, he said he felt for Ja Fallon. His fellow selector had agreed to answer the call when their injuries situation worsened but ended up with a broken collarbone for his troubles.

“I had no regrets about coming back,” he said after the game before heading to hospital. “I said I’d give it a go. I was in good shape. Obviously it was disappointing to go off so soon.

“Westmeath came here with it all to do, losing home advantage,” he added. “Fair play to them, they did great, they battled hard.

“You’d have to give them a 50/50 chance in the quarter-final. Anyone that comes through the back door has earned it the hard way. They will definitely put it up to Dublin, who aren’t the finished article but will be very hard to beat.”

Forde felt Galway had played well in the first half and were in a good position at half-time being only two points down. “We just couldn’t score in the second half and we missed frees. When Westmeath got the goal that put them four points in front, we had chances. It was one of those days. You have got to take your chances.”

Forde said he never gave up hope, feeling that the game was never beyond redemption. He remembered talking to the referee near the end.

“He told me there was five minutes left — two minutes and three more for injury time. We were two (points) down. Obviously with the wind you’d expect we’d score two points. We had the chances but we didn’t.

“I suppose we didn’t play well in the Connacht final. We scored 1-8 and we got ten points this time. You’re not going to win the championship with low scores. Our forwards were beaten to the ball easier in the first half. We couldn’t get a free in — they were around us and dispossessing us and we dropped a few balls in the goalie’s hands.”

When it came to the last minute free which Padraic Joyce took, Forde said he had initially considered bringing Micheal Meehan back on, except he was injured. And they mightn’t have had the time to make the substitution.

“It’s not an excuse, but we had a bad year with injuries. Derek Savage and Sean Armstrong were not available. You have to be at full strength no matter who you are playing. The lads were great. They put 100% effort into it. It just didn’t happen for us.”