NFL Division One/ Galway 0-15 Laois 1-9: Those of us driving west earlier yesterday reckoned there was no way this game would go ahead, and while Pearse Stadium was miraculously playable, it was up to the young free-takers of both teams to defy the conditions and set things alight. The league is no country for old men.
Such is the nature of the new format that winning every game is paramount in gaining any tangible reward, particularly the first game and particularly in Division One. With the teams level going into the last 10 minutes this game could have gone either way, but in the end Galway's three-point victory was deserved.
Laois had their chance and matched their opponents every step of the way, but with Micheál Meehan - still the wonder kid at 23 - hitting 0-8, including six from seven dead-ball efforts, Galway were setting the pace.
Seán Armstrong was equally lively up front, as were Declan Meehan and Matthew Clancy, and with substitutes Cormack Bane and Garry Sice chipping in a score, Galway produced the more balanced performance. Defender Darren Mullahy underlined his potential with a steady show and, just as referee Derek Fahy called time, kicked the security point, which was allowed.
Laois relied on the youthful legs of Michael Tierney, still only 21, to keep their scores ticking over. He ended up with six frees, four in the second half, and had he received a little more support from Colm Parkinson and Donie Brennan, Laois might well have taken the win.
Home advantage was also driving Galway, despite the paltry crowd, and afterwards new manager Liam Sammon admitted this was a game they had long targeted: "For us, it was awful important to get the win, especially the first game," he said. "We had pencilled this one in as one to win, and I'm delighted the way we won it, showing a lot of character there in the second half."
The last 10 minutes more or less belonged to Galway, despite Laois gaining the edge at midfield thanks to the redeployed Brendan Quigley. While the last of the Laois attacks broke down too easily, Galway made the most of theirs - including a typically class effort from Meehan - and in the end there could be little arguing with the result.
"We took control of midfield for maybe the last 15 minutes all right. But we didn't take the scores off it, and that's why we lost the game," admitted Laois manager Liam Kearns. "They're all very competitive games in this league. And that's the problem. If you lose a couple of games here, you're under pressure, and I don't see any easy games coming up."
The teams were level on seven occasions, with the most notable advantage for Laois coming on 17 minutes with a well-taken goal by Quigley, looking more like the instinctive forward before being moved back to midfield.
That goal had been looming; Kevin Meaney fluffed one chance, and moments later Parkinson shot an always-dangerous ball across the goalmouth, which was deftly flicked into the net by the towering Quigley.
Yet generally Galway were the bigger and marginally fitter team, Joe Bergin and particularly Mark Lydon showing up very well at midfield early on.
They quickly recovered from the goal to hit four unanswered points, including a brilliantly struck 45 from Meehan, although Laois again drew level in time for the break - 1-4 to 0-7.
Most of the second half was a free-taking spectacle, and it seemed neither Meehan nor Tierney could put a foot wrong.
The difference was Meehan had more players in support, the likes of Bane and Sice.
The general quality of the game was something Sammon was well satisfied with.
"We've done a certain amount, but haven't put any real effort in yet. We're taking it gradually, a progression type of preparation.
"But these lads are always fit, look after themselves, and you don't have to do an awful lot in training with them. But then both free-takers were outstanding, phenomenal, in difficult conditions.
"All we're hoping for is to keep progressing . . . We do have a lot of young players, and the subs that came on as well did well."
The victory wasn't without some cost as team captain Kieran Fitzgerald was carried off on 52 minutes with a severe hamstring pull and could be out for several weeks. Laois did get encouraging performances in defence from Aidan Fennelly and Cathal Ryan, while Clancy and Munnelly will get fitter over the coming weeks.
"We have four home games, and if we win all those we should be all right," added Kearns. "But all the opposition is strong . . . we have Derry at home next, and I expect that will be very, very tough. I suppose both teams there were reliant on free-takers."
As Kearns and Sammon disappeared into their dressing-rooms a hard rain began to fall on Pearse Stadium, a timely reminder it's still a long way from the heights of summer. A win like this makes the journey there that bit easier.
In an interview in last Saturday's Supplement, Liam Sammon's wife, Rosaleen, was erroneously referred to as Rosemary.
GALWAY: A Flaherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Burke; N Coyne, D Blake, D Mullahy (0-1); J Bergin (0-1), M Lydon (0-1); N Coleman, F Breathnach, D Meehan; M Clancy, M Meehan (0-8, six frees, one 45), S Armstrong (0-2). Subs: C Bane (0-1)for Coleman (24 mins), G Sice (0-1)for Coyne (40 mins), G Bradshaw for Breathnach (47 mins), D Finnegan for Fitzgerald inj (52 mins).
LAOIS: C Gorman; A Fennelly, C Ryan, R Stapleton; P O'Leary, D Rooney, P McMahon; P Clancy, K Meaney; B McCormack, M Tierney (0-6, all frees), R Munnelly (0-1); D Brennan, B Quigley (1-1), C Parkinson (0-1). Subs: B Sheehan for Munnelly (50 mins), J O'Loughlin for Brennan (50 mins), D Murphy for O'Leary inj (65 mins).
Referee: D Fahy(Longford).
