Walsh and Comer hit back at critics of Galway ‘negativity’
It sounded like a parting shot as Kevin Walsh hit out at those who have depicted his tactics as ‘negative’.
The two-time All-Ireland winning midfielder wouldn’t be drawn on his future as he concluded his fifth season in charge: “I’m not going to get into that. I want to make sure that this group goes out with their heads held high and not listen to crap outside.”
If he hopes to seek endorsement for a further year in charge, Walsh’s tactics won’t do him any favours but he was angered about how they have been depicted. Galway will play offensively when allowed to, he blasted, and they had hoped to so in Limerick on Saturday but it didn’t pay off.
“Unfortunately, the type of crap that has been put out by the guys on top who have plenty of table to sit behind have driven an agenda on that for a long time. It is not the case. It is a case that if there is space we will do that (play offensively), and if there is not we won’t.
“It is about ball retention and playing as much as we can. Some of the kicks didn’t come off but they were quite direct.
You look at missing a penalty, conceding a poor goal, hitting the post and missing one or two frees, that game was there for winning. And a few awful decisions put us on the back foot as well.
Galway captain Damien Comer, who claimed the early Mayo goals were “sucker-punches”, backed his manager, slamming how he had been portrayed in the media. “Kevin has given us great benefits throughout his tenure and I think it’s embarrassing the press he has got over the last few years and the criticism he has come under. If you saw the way Galway football was when he came and see where it is now it is great credit to the man.
“I don’t think he is any way deserving of the harsh criticism that he has come under. It’s probably lazy journalism in some ways but it’s very disrespectful to a man who had done so much for Galway football in the past and who still continues to do so much for Galway football from the sidelines.
“We know as a group the work he has done and we are very proud of where we have come from and where we are going to go too.”
For the second weekend in a row, the manager of the team dismissed by Mayo had cause to criticise the referee. After Kieran McGeeney questioned Maurice Deegan, Walsh took issue with some of Joe McQuillan’s officiating. “I know referees are under serious pressure but there are agendas probably being driven by the top.
“It probably puts pressure on them to make all the silly decisions.
“It is very frustrating when it is as simple on the eye to look at the stuff that went on. It is frustrating.”
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