Galway keep up the pace
All-Ireland football champions Galway had a one point victory
over Donegal on Sunday to notch up two wins out of two in the
National League. Not very surprising, you might think, but the
character of the victory said a lot about Galway's continuing
hunger for success.
The team would have been forgiven if they had taken the
wellwishers' pints and slaps on the back and celebrated up until
Christmas, ready to start serious training for the big prize in
the New Year. But they had other ideas, or their manager John
O'Mahony had. He has them fired up and determined enough to go
out on a cold November Sunday and come through a tough match.
Galway have a favourable draw in next year's Championship (which
was announced at the weekend). They have to beat London and Sligo
for a place in the Connacht Final against Mayo, New York,
Roscommon or Leitrim. They should be happy with that.
Donegal, like Down and a number of other teams, are using the
League to blood some new players and they'll have been happy with
their display on Sunday. They meet Armagh in the first round of
the Championship and the winners take on either Derry or Cavan in
the semi-final. That certainly looks like the tough side of the
draw.
In the other half Tyrone meet either Monaghan or Fermanagh and
Down play Antrim, hopefully in a fully redeveloped Pairc an Iuir.
Some commentators have speculated that Antrim are in with a
chance of winning their first Championship match this decade.
Certainly they have improved steadily over the last few years but
they'll be long odds to topple Down in their spanking new back
yard.
The instability at Glasgow Celtic continues, both on and off the
pitch. They are now ten points behind Rangers and face the
possibilty of that gap increasing when the two sides meet this
weekend. There have been few indications in recent weeks that
Celtic will make a serious attempt to hold onto their title.
In the boardroom speculation and intrigue continue apace with the
supposed bid from ex-Celt Kenny Dalglish and Jim `The Tim'' Kerr
of Simple Minds to take over the 51% shareholding of Fergus
McCann.
Meanwhile the fans sit with a 26% shareholding and very little
real influence. They should look to Barcelona, one of the most
successful clubs in Europe, who are controlled by their fans.
They vote for the club President every year. Time for real fan
power in Glasgow.
By Brian Campbell
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