GAA
27 January 1999

MAYO AND GALWAY SURVIVE MONSOON

Mayo 2-9 - - - Galway 0-10

John Melvin reports from Clonbur

The less said about this game the better, and even better still, the less written, as it was played in a monsoon. A farce and an insult to both players and spectators, in my humble view. But then, I get paid for taking risks, but these amateur sportsmen have to settle for a bowl of soup and a rump of steak.

Mayo and Galway clashes always provide an interest, even a fascination for some. And it is particularly interesting when Galway are All-Ireland champions, having dismissed Mayo from their cosy Connacht pedestal they occupied last year. The blood always warms when these two collide , but I can assure you it was below freezing point after this game.

Mayo supporters went looking for chinks in the Galway amour, crumbs from the richman's All Ireland table to sustain them as the championship approaches, but, in truth, both John Maughan and John 0'Mahony might have had more satisfaction had they brought their fishing tackle to Clonbur on Sunday. At least, they might have caught something among the many pools of rain that flooded this pitch to dangerous levels in the second half. We even had the farcical situation of a hole developing in a goalmouth which forced the game to be stopped, while shovels were secured and the hole filled in.

Had either manager refused to let their teams out in the second half, they would have been totally vindicated, and I'm sure have got the approval of the thousand or so hardy souls, who turned out in monsoon-like conditions. Certainly, those several hundred who failed to get shelter in the stand, would have applauded the referee had he decided to abandon this game, as they were soaked to the skin in the incessant rain, with many supporters finally giving up and taking refuge in their cars, to take in Mike Finnerty's commentary on Mid West Radio.

I can assure them, they would have seen more through eagle-eyed Mike than they would through the sheets that reduced visibility at this ground. The experienced gained by Mike in these conditions should give him the edge if any station is looking for a commentator on the synchronised swimming event at the Sydney Olympics, as he might as well have been under water for this commentary.

Referee B. McCormack made a serious error in judgment in allowing the game, and the second half in particular, to go ahead. Conditions were treacherous, and it was scandalous to ask players to turn out in the circumstances.

CREDIT

But turn out they did, and it was to Mayo's credit that they made the most of it and under the circumstances no accusing finger could be pointed at any player in this game for failing to make an effort. Sticking you nose out of the dressing room was effort enough under the circumstances. But the fact that Mayo wanted to beat Galway was clearly but in the end it was the goals-one in each half- which separated the sides.

Galway featured seven of the All-Ireland winning side- the entire half back line of Silke, Divilly and De Paor, Tomas Meehan at corner back, Ja Fallon, who played at midfield in this game, and up front were Padraic Joyce and Derek Savage.

Mayo had a strong enough team with at least of the side that is likely to carry their championship hopes this year.

In the end it came down to a piece of opportunism from John Casey, who followed up Maurice Sheridan's penalty to finish to the net just before the half-time whistle and a well taken goal by Damien Quinn early in the second half.

Maurice Sheridan had found the posts in the incessant rain to put Mayo two points clear before Padraig Joyce opened Galway's account with a 45. David Nestor had a good point for Mayo, but it was the Tribesman with three points in-a- row, one very good score from Ja Fallon, who was operating at midfield, which put them 0-4 to 0-3 clear, but another Sheridan free, and a penalty after Nestor was taken down, gave Mayo an interval lead of 1-5 to 0-6.

Sheridan's spot-kick went straight at the keeper, but among a posse of players who followed up., John Casey got the vital toe in, to get the ball out of the muck and across the line.

Quick thinking by Mayo ten minutes into the second half released Damien Quinn, whose left footed effort from twenty yards ended in the corner of the net, despite the vain attempt of a Galway defender who managed to get a touch to it.

Sheridan stroked over another free and Mayo were 2-8 to 0-6 clear and supporters, mostly the drenched, were streaming out in search of more comfortable surrounds.

Galway came with a late flurry of points, two from impressive substitute Tommy Wilson, while Michael Moyles picked off a good point for Mayo, but this was a day for a game of twenty five by the fireside not ducks and drakes in a Clonbur swamp.

The win puts Mayo up against Sligo in their final game and a win there is likely to secure them a place in the F.B.D. League final, depending on how Leitrim do against Roscommon. Let us just hope conditions are kinder for the next outing in Charlestown on Sunday.

Scorers for Mayo: M. Sheridan 0-5- 4 frees; D. Quinn 1-2; J. Casey 1-0; D. Nestor 0-1; M. Moyles 0-1. For Galway: P. Joyce 0-5- 3 frees); T. Wilson 0-2; J. Fallon, D. Meehan and C. McGauran 0-1 each.

Mayo: P. Burke, P. Holmes, P. O'Raghaillaigh, A. Higgins, A. Roche, F. Costello, P. Fallon, C. McMenamon, M. Sheridan, J. Nallen, J. Casey, D. Quinn, J. Horan, D. Nestor. Subs: P. Walsh for Nestor, D. McDonagh for Nallen, M. Moyles for Casey.

Galway: L. Kelly, R. Doyle, J. Killeen, T. Meehan, R. Silke, J. Divilly, S. Og DePaor, D. Mitchell, J. Fallon, T. Joyce, P. Joyce, D. Meehan, D. Savage, C. McGauran, J. Donnellan. Subs: T. Wilson for J. Donnellan, M. Colleran for S. De Paor, C. MacDonnacha for D. Savage.

Ref: B. McCormack

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - January 1999