GALWAY LGFA: (Preview – 2018 National League SF) – STEPHEN GLENNON 

0
631

Galway take on Dublin this Sunday (22nd April) in the Ladies National Football League as they chase a sixth final appearance. 

The Tribeswomen, or the Metropolitans, have never won this competition and both will relish a final appearance in May.  Galway last appeared in the decider in 2015 when they went down to Cork after a replay.

Last year, Galway suffered a heavy defeat to Donegal (5-11 to 1-8) at this stage.  And they suffered a similar fate (6-19 to 1-10) when falling to Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Manager Stephen Glennon knows his team they need to be competitive against the All-Ireland champions and accepts they’ll be huge underdogs despite beating Dublin 1-17 to 1-15 last month.  He chatted to Galway Daily during the week.

“It’s great to have the venue now nailed down but the wait of the last week, it can be hard enough operating in that vacuum,” said Glennon.  “But it’s great now to have a venue and we can plan ahead accordingly.

“We’re going to be huge underdogs in fairness.  This is a championship like game and it’s far different from any of the group games and that’s what we’re trying to impress on the girls that this is going to be a different kettle of fish.

“I’m expecting a far more intense game from what we got in Abbotstown.  They’ll (Dublin) probably be sharper on certain aspects of the game where they felt that we exposed them.  We moved the ball very quick that day and we got our just reward.

“I think there’s a realisation there themselves (Galway) that they do have a say in what intensity they can bring, what pace they can bring, what they can do on the field themselves.  And when they do put things together, they are a very good team.

“I still think there are a few girls in the set up that can break their way into the first team.  You’ve probably seen that in the competitiveness within the squad.  We definitely have 24 that can start on any given day now.  And that’s huge.”

Galway face Dublin in the LIDL Ladies National Football League semi-final this Sunday (22nd April).  Throw-in at Kinnegad is 3pm.  The other semi-final between Cork and Mayo takes place at the same time in St. Brendan’s Park, Birr.