Narrow one point victory for Galway over Westmeath

Allianz FL Division 1 Round 2: Westmeath 2-12 Galway 2-13: It’s an awful pity that Paddy Sweeney didn’t live to see this day. A stalwart of the Killannin club which also produced Kevin Walsh, Sweeney also served as an officer of Galway football board but was killed in a work accident over a year ago.

His twin sons started for the first time in a league game for Galway yesterday, having starred on various underage teams over the years. Cathal turned in a rock solid day at corner-back but it was Patrick who stole the show with 1-5 from play from full-forward and also winning the penalty for the second.

It was some way to announce your arrival on the big stage and his late father, would have rightly been as proud as punch. Sweeney’s contribution has given rise to great expectation in Galway that his clubmate Kevin Walsh will end their four-year hibernation from the top flight in his first season in charge as they backed up their opening day win over Meath.