Walsh expands horizon

It was remarked upon several times on Friday afternoon, when over 300 people packed into a hotel at €85 a head for a fundraising lunch for the Galway footballers, that these times were reminiscent of 1998 when the Tribesmen came from nowhere to win the All-Ireland title.

The infusion of successful young talent and an emphatic opening round win over Roscommon had seen optimism levels soar in Galway in recent times but by Saturday night in Salthill they were all deflated.

The irony that the shock defeat was masterminded by Kevin Walsh, the inspirational midfielder who led the Tribesmen to that ’98 success, will not be lost on Galway supporters.