Galway are ready for strong Cork challenge

There’s a more robust hue to the maroon jersey this year thanks in no small part to the appointment of former Mayo coach Kevin Reidy, to the Galway helm.

Today will be his biggest challenge yet, an All-Ireland quarter-final against reigning nine-time champions Cork in Gaelic Park, Limerick (6pm, live on TG4).

For veteran forward Edel Concannon, however, it’s a challenge the Tribeswomen are ready for - mentally, and physically. “In the past you might have doubts about one thing or another, but not this year. Kevin and the management team have left no stone unturned,” the 12-year senior intercounty veteran admitted.

Key to Galway’s transformation too, says Concannon, has been the addition of impressive strength and conditioning coach Ann Caffrey.

Less than 24 hours after the squad’s drawn game against Cork in the Division 1 NFL final, Caffrey had the players doing a recovery session at Silverstrand Beach in Baltic conditions. A tough match she said, deserved a tough recovery.

Mentally, they’re stronger too. Three times the sides have met this year, and twice Cork only came out with a win by the skin of their teeth. Galway pushed them all the way, and despite losing the league final replay by a point in May, Concannon believes it was a defeat that galvanised them.

“It was a hard loss to take, but the league for us was more of a learning curve. It would have been a bonus to have a medal in our back pockets, but we always had one eye on the championship. We knew that we should have, and could have, beaten them so we took a lot from that,” admitted the 28-year-old secondary school teacher, based in Athlone Community College.

Like Concannon, her teammates have the smarts for football, but now they’ve belief with it. Wing-forward Louise Ward received 580 points in her Leaving Cert mid-week, but her focus will be on today, and a chance of securing a place in the semi-final on August 29 against the winners of Mayo and Kerry (Gaelic Grounds, 4pm).

A one-point win over Mayo in the Connacht final a month ago came as a surprise to many however. On the day, Cora Staunton kicked 1-15.

“It was the best game I’ve seen Cora play in my life! She was untouchable, absolutely unmarkable,” says Concannon. It was a big wake-up call. They should have beaten us, but we robbed them and realised that after. It put things into perspective and we knew we were very lucky.”

A number of challenge matches, including one against Ulster finalists Monaghan, has kept Reidy’s players on their toes, and despite the four-week gap since the Connacht final, for Tuam-born Concannon, the barren spell hasn’t overly affected their preparations.

“The gap between games isn’t ideal, but the competition for places at training is ridiculous. We’re hungry, but you have to be hungry when facing Cork. They’ll have Tracey (Leonard) noted and we relied on her too much in the league final, so getting a better spread of scorers will be key, as well as maintaining our discipline, because Cork will punish you.”

Meanwhile, Mayo face Kerry in the curtain-raiser in Gaelic Park at 4pm, with Staunton looking to add to her 3-25 championship tally to-date. Both games will be televised live on TG4.