GALWAY vs ROSCOMMON DEAD RUBBER TO GO AHEAD NEXT SUNDAY 

Galway and Roscommon will play their final Connacht FBD League group match next Sunday (21st January, 2pm Tuam Stadium) even though both have qualified for the decider in five weeks the Connacht Council have assisted. 

Victory for Kevin Walsh’s charges and Roscommon over Mayo (0-14 to 0-11) have ensured Galway and Roscommon will compete in the final as both teams are uncatchable on six points.

There was hope in both camps that the fixture would be cancelled, or be played as the final, given the respective panels a break before the National Leagues commence seven days later.  Munster doubled up their final league games as deciders with Cork beating Clare on Saturday in the McGrath Cup Final.  And Limerick triumphing over the Banner in the Munster Hurling League.

This means neither squad will get a weekend off until March 11th as they are scheduled five league rounds either side of the Connacht FBD Final.

https://twitter.com/Emulkerrin/status/952859237792780288

Hard to see the point in playing dead rubber FBD League games next weekend, Galway to meet Roscommon in final round and in final on 18 Feb. Doubling up matches seemed to work in Munster over weekend in hurling and football finals.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) January 15, 2018

Would be nice if Prenty and Co do the sensible thing for a change. No need playing that last Galway v Roscommon game as a group game make it the final #commonsense

— Ross4life (@Rossie4life) January 14, 2018

Galway were 3-6 to 0-8 winners on Sunday (14th January) against Leitrim in dreadful weather in Clonbur as two Dessie Conneely goals and a Frankie Burke penalty gave the Tribesmen the initiative as the led 3-3 to 0-7 at half-time.

The second period in incessant rain tested the resolve of both teams with Galway edging it 0-3 to 0-1 giving them their third victory, two days after Patrick Sweeney’s goal secured a 1-10 to 1-9 win against Mayo in MacHale Park.

“Whatever was in the legs of both sides seemed to be ran out in the first half,” said Galway manager Kevin Walsh to Galway Bay FM’s Kevin Dwyer after the game.  “I think the score in the second half was only 0-3 to 0-1.

“Conditions were absolutely shocking.  Fair play to the lads.  It was hard to watch all day; the amount of ball been spilled and stuff.  To be fair, you have to ask the question was it playable or not.  There were no injuries.  That’s the main thing.

“You’d be very conscious of today.  Two days later (since Mayo game), there was no pulls and tears or anything like hamstrings or whatever.  And mainly a new team today and a lot of lads did very well again in the conditions.

“It’s unfortunate that the weather conditions probably didn’t allow all of that (players expressing themselves) in the last three games.  It’s been as bad as we’ve ever seen it.  At the same time, you have to play these games and it’s where you might learn your trade.”