Galway making hay while Portumna shine

GALWAY’S Ger Farragher says he and his teammates are making the most of their opportunities while the Portumna players are preparing for their All-Ireland club final date with Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Farragher was speaking in the wake of the Tribesmen’s emphatic win over Waterford in the NHL in Salthill, stressing the importance of league games to fringe players on the panel.

“With the Portumna lads away it has given lads a chance to prove their worth in the team.

“There are a few lads there like myself that weren’t there in the last few years, and it has given us the chance to be on the team again.

“You see the lads that came on from the last day, lads like Iarla Tannian, who had a brilliant game. It just shows the strong panel that is there already.”

Galway have two wins from two games so far and Farragher says they’re enjoying themselves.

“Four points from four is what we really wanted, so that’s good. We want to win every game and it’s not often you get so many good games.

“It was a good game against Waterford, but the last ten minutes we kind of pulled away in the end.”

The midfielder, who chipped in with three points in that game, acknowledged that Galway still have areas of their game which they need to work on: “We went seven points up and we went in at half-time two points down.

“The same the last day. We were two points down against Limerick the last day. That’s what you want. You want good, tight games and in the end we finished stronger.”

Farragher hasn’t been a regular starter for the last couple of seasons – was injury to blame?

“A small bit, probably loss of form too as well. I suppose when you get your chance you have to take it. Last year I got the last two games, which worked out all right.”

He credits hard work in the off season with his new strength on the ball.

“If you are in the gym the last four or five months it has to pay off.” said Farragher. “Ger Loughnane did it. He started it off and we had two good years under him and just continued again with John Mac.

“It is a couple of years (you reap the benefits). If you’re not big and come up against lads you’re just going to be blown out of the way. If everyone else is doing it you have to do it yourself.”

Farragher broke onto the senior scene as a corner-forward, but now the 26-year-old has moved out into the middle of the field, is it more enjoyable?

“I feel 36, I look it, the hair is going,” he laughs.

“I was getting too slow for corner forward so they put me out.

“I play with the club at midfield, it is my preferred position anyway.

“I am definitely not fast enough for corner forward I know that myself because all of the corner backs these days, they are lightning fast.”

Ger Farragher takes on Michael Doherty during Sunday’s NHL clash at Pearse Stadium.