Galway must beat Kildare to be sure of avoiding relegation

Despite producing a terrific second half display last weekend to beat Roscommon by 1-14 to 1-10 at Hyde Park, Galway are still not out of the woods as regards relegation.

To be certain of avoiding the dreaded trapdoor to Division Three for 2016, Kevin Walsh's team need to defeat Jason Ryan's Kildare at Tuam next Sunday (3pm ).

Were Galway to lose to Kildare, and Laois were to defeat or draw with Down, and Westmeath beat Roscommon in Cusack Park, then Galway would be relegated on their head to head meeting with Kildare.

While it is unlikely that all those results this weekend would go against Galway, that is a risk that they cannot take, and their intention is to go out and build on the win over Roscommon and defeat the Lilies too, and end their league campaign with a bit of a boost.

While team manager Kevin Walsh was delighted with his side’s performance and win last weekend on away turf, he focussed on the process that is taking place throughout the entire league, more so than the win itself.

"Our plan is to try and get the best we can from our players. We have to look at what we can do best and control what is inside our dressing-room, and that's all we can do."

"All the lads believe in what we are doing and we face different challenges every day we go out. At the start of the year we knew it would take time to get things right and while it was great to get a win over Roscommon, we now have to try and get another one this Sunday in Tuam."

"We are trying to put a process in place that we can compete with the best teams in Ireland and learn how to play against all the top teams, including those using the blanket defence."

Corofin's Liam Silke who was making his debut last Sunday had a fine game and the NUIG student was extremely low key and rationale in his views after being selected as the Galway Bay FM man of the match.

"A lot of lads played really well and it was great to get a win. However we have to beat Kildare now. Beating Roscommon was fine, but it is only half the job done, and we want to get a win this Sunday to make sure we stay in Division Two for next season."

If Galway can reproduce the quality of the displays from last weekend from the likes of Peadar Ó Griofa who shot six points (0-4fs ), Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Cathal Sweeney, Paul Conroy (0-3fs ) and hopefully both Damien Comer and Liam Silke come through their U21 final on Saturday unscathed and are available, then a home win for Kevin Walsh's panel is achievable.

 

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