With the risk of relegation still very much alive for Galway this morning it was all to play for when they took on Kerry in Killarney. While Derry's win over Roscommon shielded them from a drop to Division 2, it was a largely disappointing performance from Padraic Joyce's side as they fell to a two point loss.
Galway came out of the blocks racing, taking the lead and maintaining control beyond the first of the third of the game. However, as Kerry moved up through the gears, the visitors quickly found themselves struggling to keep upas they fell four points behind before the break, a gap they struggled to close.
While a late goal cushioned the scoreboard for Joyce's men, in reality, they showed little prospect of winning after their initial burst.
The loss sums up a tough league campaign for Galway that has seen them win just two of seven games and only narrowly avoid relegation in the dying hours of the competition.
Padraic Joyce left downbeat by Galway's league run
Speaking to TG4 after the game Joyce was visibly disappointed in their run, explaining the effect their admittedly extensive injury list has had on the season so far.
Bhí Pádraic Joyce macánta faoi stadas na foirne tar éis cailliúint eile sa tsraith.
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #SárDhomhnach #SuperSunday pic.twitter.com/tnmk3ntZzt— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 24, 2024
Started the game okay but a really poor performance over all to be honest...we were just lacking a bit of energy today for some reason I don't know, obviously wouldn't be happy with it but the saving grace is we survived division one with the panel of players we had available...that's an achievement for us to be honest.
We just a bit void of ideas at times there but we put a bit of energy into it in the last ten fifteen minutes and nearly stole the game in the end...you ask yourself the question and I'm sure the supporters are the same 'why can't you do that from minute 16 all along'
When questioned about whether players who had been given an opportunity possibly didn't stand up to the plate, Padraic Joyce was slow to disagree, adding that the return of Galway's star players Damien Comer, Sean Kelly and Shane Walsh could still be quite some time away.
Yeah that's it in a nutshell, look some young lads have done really really well on different days and different outcomes, but I'll tell you to be honest it's a relief and probably a good achievement that we've stayed in Division One with the panel of players we've had available to us but look it it's no disrespect to them (players available) they work really hard, they train really hard.
I don't know to be honest some of them have tendon injuries, hamstring injuries, the thing is when they're back available to train you have to trial them and keep them on the pitch when they're training they're not going to just land back in and produce 10/10 performances.
While Joyce was grateful to have remained in Division 1, his comments highlighted the significant impact injuries were having on the squad and the Tribesmen's reliance on captain Sean Kelly and key forwards Damien Comer and Shane Walsh all of whom are out of action with serious injuries.
Considering Joyce's comments on the abilities of the abilities of the current panel of available players and the unlikely nature of his star players returning anytime soon, Galway must now look at securing their route out of the Connacht Championship and into the Super Sixteens with their first provincial game in just two weeks.
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