At some stage, everyone is going to have to stop ignoring Galway.
Yes, maybe they could be more attacking and get more out of Comer and Walsh and Armstrong – maybe they should design a system around their offensive strengths and maybe teams will be ready for them in the championship. You can say all that and yet Galway can turn around and tell you to piss off, look at our stats.
Just promoted from Division Two, they were tipped to be struggling in the top tier this season and, yet, seven games later, they remain undefeated. They’re top of the table and they’re headed for a Division One league final with the All-Ireland champions and they’re boasting some impressive records.
They’ve accumulated more points than any other side across every division – 13 from a possible 14.
They’ve conceded less points than any other side across every division.
They haven’t conceded just one goal.
And, with six wins in their seven games, they’ve won them with a combined total of 23 points to spare.
Sooner or later, somebody is going to have to sit up and listen and respect that what they’re doing can’t just be brushed off as, ‘ah, it’s only the league’.
They’ve beaten Mayo (again), Tyrone and Kerry – the three pretenders to the Dublin throne – and they’ve taken care of Donegal and Monaghan and shown that, in stark contrast to Kildare, they’ve pushed on with serious intent from last season.
Perhaps an April game in Croke Park will give a better measure of where they’re at but, in the the last three championships too, they’re the only ones who have been able to beat Mayo outside of the capital outfit, the champions every time.
They have potential and, maybe – with a defensive system or not – they’re beginning to realise it.
Fortunately for you, the bookmakers are not.
Ahead of the league final, Galway are firm outsiders which, of course, fair enough given the pedigree of the opposition.
Division One
Dublin 1/4
Draw 10/1
Galway 4/1
It is the handicap for this game which is the most intriguing however.
At Galway +5, the Tribesmen can be acquired at Evens price. So, if they lose to Dublin by 4, your bet is up and, given that they haven’t lost in this league campaign and have already drawn with Dublin and conceded just 83 points in seven games – and only shipped one goal – form suggests that they are not ripe for a hiding.
Division Two
Roscommon 4/6
Draw 15/2
Cavan 13/8
Division Three
Armagh 8/15
Draw 15/2
Fermanagh 21/10
Division Four
Laois 8/13
Draw 15/2
Carlow 7/4
