Allianz NFL Division 2
Easter Sunday March 27th 2016
Galway v Fermanagh @ Tuam @ 3pm
Referee – Jerome Henry (Mayo)
Fermanagh go outside of Ulster for the first and only time this year in a Division 2 NFL campaign that has seen them win 2 and lose 3 games on the way thus far.
Come Sunday 5pm results could have Fermanagh in the bottom 2 and with just 1 game left at home to Tyrone that is an extremely precarious position for Pete McGrath’s side, although a win in Connacht and other results going Fermanagh’s way will have us safe and competing in division 2 once again in 2017, the size of this game really is that big.
Fermanagh come into the game a bit under the weather after the below par performance against Cavan seen Terry Hyland’s side winning 1-12 to 0-9. Tomas Corrigan leads the way in the Erne scoring charts with 1-29 in 5 games while Fermanagh are joint last with Meath and Armagh for scoring this season. Fermanagh though have the third best defensive record in the league with top 2 Tyrone and Cavan beating the Erne men. A worry for McGrath’s side is that 32 of the 55 scores this year have came from placed ball.
Aidan Breen (pictured) has been superb this season and amazingly is third in the Erne scoring charts with 0-6 in 5 games, fantastic scoring from the Tempo man who has notched a score in each game and even 1 coming from the first game against Derry when he was playing full back.
Eoin Donnelly will once again captain the team, while Sean Quigley will be pushing hard for a starting slot after his impressive cameo role against Cavan left many wondering why he wasn’t introduced earlier in that particular game.
Galway are a traditional powerhouse in GAA circles with 9 Sam Maguires and 4 NFL Division 1 titles. Sligo native Kevin Walsh is managing Galway once again this term and his side are bang in the mix for promotion along with Cavan and Derry for the 2nd spot with Tyrone.
The Galway promotion charge though has faltered in recent weeks with draws against relegation contenders Meath and Armagh derailing the Tribesmen.
For Galway though its simple win against Fermanagh and Cavan in round 7 and they will be promoted. The attacking threat of Galway is worrying from a Fermanagh perspective players such as Eddie Hoare, Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy are all in great form, while at midfield Fiontain O’Curraoin is an injury doubt but if passed fit he will slot in with Tom Flynn with both building up a great understanding. Defence has seen Galway concede 6-60 in 5 games (12 points more than Fermanagh) so it will be imperative defenders such as Declan Kyne and Liam Silke keep a close tabs on the Erne attackers.
A close game awaits, Galway will be refreshed after a holiday in Portugal, while Fermanagh will know that its a game they can get something out of.
Good luck to all and safe travelling to the large Fermanagh support attending.
