Baker laments ’suicidal’ defending

Ollie Baker described Offaly’s defending that led to Galway’s early three goals as “suicidal”.

“It was suicidal defending for the first 15 minutes and Galway got goals,” said the Clare native. “It was just defenders not standing up, not turning the man backwards and once they got past us... We just gave away one or two soft goals and once you do that you’re fighting an uphill battle completely. We got back into the game and just before half-time we got them back to four points and missed a couple of chances. The goal before half-time was a cruel blow.”

Baker felt Galway’s fourth goal before the break was the moment when the game was won and lost.

“We had a bit of a run at the time, it’s a psychological barrier and if we had got within three points at half-time it would have taken an awful lot of their artillery.

“But we had a couple of bad wides just before half-time and they went down and got a goal.

“It pushed out their lead again and they always had a cushion in the second half unless we got an awful deluge of goals so unfortunately we’ll have to go down the other path.”

Baker’s opposite number, Anthony Cunningham, insisted he’s not too concerned about the amount of scores his team are conceding.

Galway have been scoring freely but have seen 7-27 put up against them in their two Championship games against Westmeath and Offaly.

The St Thomas man was disappointed with Offaly’s two second-half goals but was hardly panicking.

Asked if his team’s style was cavalier, he said: “I wouldn’t say that. The last day maybe too much was read into it.

“Kevin Hynes had a fine game today and so did Fergal Moore in our backs, while Iarla Tannian played very well.

“The last day, there was 20 minutes go and we were up 19 points and we left in a few soft goals. But we were very happy with Kevin’s performance there today and Fergal’s — we will be tested the next day but I think we have the options to keep the goals out as well.”

Concerning Derek Molloy and Shane Dooley’s goals in the last 12 minutes, Cunningham acknowledged they were concessions the group will have to analyse.

“We would be disappointed with that, we have to be honest about that and that is something that we will have to work on. ”

“They (Galway) finished well and they had a good spread of scores.

“We have improvements to make, there is no doubt of that. We have to be sharper in our play the next day but that is another step-up , but we’ve come through well and we’re happy.”